Stress Stacking

I asked AI to generate an image of “a sandwich with lots of layers.” It really captured the mood.

I joked last week that I was trying a new stress-management technique I’d dubbed “stress stacking.” A marathon, a mammogram, a possible layoff, a messy home sale, and a messy home purchase all happening in a single week. And that’s just my little life.

But wait, there's more! Because apparently, my personal stress buffet wasn't enough, the world decided to pile on its own special sauce of wars, elections, and a hearty helping of collective grief. It's enough to make anyone want to hide under the covers with a pint of ice cream and a "Do Not Disturb" sign.

As my brilliant friend

Carla Zanoni

so perfectly put it, it's like a stress club sandwich: a drippy, messy mouthful of oozing uncertainty. (Thanks for that deliciously apt metaphor, Carla!)

So, what's a stress-sandwich connoisseur to do? Here are a few ideas I'm trying:

1. Slice it up: Break down each stressor into manageable bites. Marathon training? One run at a time. Home sale? Today's task only.

2. Add some crunch: Find moments of joy or humor in the chaos. I'm thinking of making a bingo card of my stressors - first one to "BINGO" wins... more stress?

3. Hold the mayo: Identify what you can control and what you can't. Let go of the extras that just make things messier.

4. Share your sandwich: Talk to friends, family, or a professional. Sometimes, just describing your stress stack can make it feel lighter.

5. Savor the good stuff: Amid the chaos, there are still moments of sweetness. Notice and appreciate them, no matter how small.

Now, I'm curious - what's in your stress sandwich this week? How are you managing to take bites without choking? Drop a comment or join us in the Uplifters Unstuck Facebook group to share your stress-management recipes. Who knows? Your secret sauce might be exactly what someone else needs!

Remember, we're all in this big, messy stress deli together. Sometimes we're the ones making the sandwiches, sometimes we're the ones eating them, but we're never alone.

Until next time, if you’re stacking, don't forget to breathe between bites!

Aransas

PS Our listener survey is still open. It’ll take less than 5 minutes to complete and you’ll have a hand in shaping the future of The Uplifters Podcast and Substack.

---

Uplift With Us!

🌟 Wear your inspiration with an Uplifter necklace. Treat yourself or gift one HERE.

💡 Need clarity on your vision? Explore private coaching to illuminate your next chapter HERE.

😌 Need a break to reset your mind and accelerate your dream-making? Learn more about our first-ever Uplifters Retreat HERE.

🚀 Is your team ready to soar? Discover how I can boost your high-performers HERE.

👭 Join an Uplifters Circle for regular doses of support and sisterhood. Details HERE.

⏩ Share this Substack and get great swag.

---

Your Next Uplifter

Our next episode of The Uplifters Podcast is headed your way on Thursday, featuring

Veronica Karas

, our financial planner, who is helping us navigate so many of these stress layers.

Veronica Karas is a Certified Financial Planner™ Professional and Principal for CAPTRUST, a leading independent investment research and fee-based advisory firm. With over a decade of experience, Veronica is known for her holistic approach to financial planning, which includes investment management, retirement planning, estate planning, tax planning, and risk management.

Veronica's financial planning services are personalized to each client's unique goals, risk tolerance, and financial situation. She is dedicated to helping her clients achieve their financial goals and create a lasting legacy. Veronica is the author of the ‘Money Matters’ series of books and a regular speaker on financial planning topics. She has been featured in Forbes, CNBC, Bloomberg, and recognized as one of the top financial planners in the United States.

Paid Subscriber Zone

✨ Huge gratitude to all of our paid subscribers! Your support makes all the difference.

✨I loved seeing so many of you on Friday at our monthly Paid Subscriber live gathering. Save the date for the next one- the first Friday of each month. Details below.

✨ As always, all of my writing is free and you can listen to every episode of the podcast for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Substack, or wherever you get your podcasts. For those of you who are more visual or want to take a deeper dive with our guests and who want to support this work with a paid subscription, you’ll find the extended-cut video of my conversation with Taylor Scott below.