Trending Tuesday: When Stress Goes Up, Your Healthy Habits Should Too
Book I’m Hearing: Protocols by Andrew Huberman
This week, I’ve been listening to Protocols by Andrew Huberman.
One of the things I appreciate about Huberman’s approach is the focus on practical behaviors that can improve how we feel and perform. Rather than looking for one magic solution, the emphasis is on the daily inputs—sleep, exercise, nutrition, light, stress management, recovery, and other habits—that compound over time.
That idea resonates with me because health is rarely built through one big decision.
It’s built through protocols.
The things we do repeatedly become the foundation for how our bodies function. And when life gets especially demanding, those foundational behaviors become even more important. If you are looking for a ton of great tips on how to do some of the most foundational aspects of health, give this one a read!
Strategy I’m Using: Add Health During Stress
Over the last couple of months, I went through one of the busiest and most stressful work seasons I’ve had in years.
Eventually, my body let me know.
For the first time in years, I got sick.
Looking back, it wasn’t particularly surprising. I had dramatically increased my workload while simultaneously reducing some of the things that normally help keep me healthy.
Now that I’m coming out of that season, I’ve intentionally gone in the opposite direction.
I’ve been adding more health-building behaviors into my week:
- More chiropractic adjustments
- More massage and body work
- Cleaner eating
- Cutting out caffeine
- More consistent workouts
- More attention to recovery
And there’s an important lesson here.
The time you feel like you have the least room for healthy habits may be the time you need them the most.
When people get stressed, they often start subtracting the very things that keep them healthy. They stop exercising because they’re busy. They grab whatever food is convenient. They sleep less. They cancel the massage. They skip the workout. They stop doing the things that help their body manage stress because they feel like they don’t have enough time. I think a better strategy is to reverse that thinking.
As stress goes up, health-building behaviors should go up with it.
If I know I’m entering a demanding period, I want to intentionally add exercise, body work, adjustments, good nutrition, sleep, recovery, and time outside—not remove them. Stress isn’t always something we can control. How we support our bodies during periods of stress often is.
Healthy people don’t just practice healthy behaviors when life is easy. They lean into those behaviors when life gets hard.
Quote I’m Loving
“If you can be grateful in pain, you can be trusted in prosperity.”
I love this idea because gratitude is easy when everything is going well.
The real test is whether we can find something to appreciate when things aren’t going according to plan.
Can you be grateful while you’re struggling?
Can you appreciate what you’re learning while you’re going through something difficult?
Can you recognize the people, opportunities, health, and relationships that are still good even when one part of life feels hard?
The difficult seasons often teach us things the easy seasons never could.
And maybe the goal isn’t simply to get through them as quickly as possible.
Maybe it’s to come out of them stronger, wiser—and more grateful.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Whether you’re looking to improve your posture, recover from an injury, move better, or simply feel healthier, we’d love to help.
If you or someone you know could benefit from our care, please reach out.
Call: (858) 521-8022
Email: alignedlifewell@gmail.com
We look forward to helping you build a healthier, more active life.
Have a healthy week everyone!
In Health,
Dr. Devin Shea, DC
Please share with your friends and encourage them to subscribe to our email list by visiting alignedlifewellness.com.
Please note, all above links are clickable and will take you directly to each resource for download and/or purchase.
