Why I’m Committing to Scheduling My “Stress Time”
In my previous posts, I mentioned some key pillars of wellness: good sleep, daily movement, nourishing food, time in nature, and healthy relationships. If those are the things to focus on, it’s also worth noticing what we might try to reduce.
For me, one of the biggest is stress. It’s tricky, because it’s not just about how much stress we have, it’s about our relationship with it. Some stress is healthy and even motivating, but when our nervous system gets stuck in a constant fight-or-flight mode, that balance gets thrown off.
In the interest of maintaining balance, I’ve chosen my third and final goal / habit for March (and for this Surefooted Challenge overall). This habit has two parts: first, noticing when I’m caught in stressful inner dialogue (for me, this often shows up around 3 a.m.!), and writing it down in my journal; and second, bringing those thoughts to a weekly “stress meeting.”
This isn’t a brand-new idea for us. In the past, Becky and I had a regular “scheduled stress time” that worked remarkably well. On Saturday mornings, after a good sleep and some exercise, we’d head to a coffee shop and intentionally talk through whatever was weighing on our minds. It may sound funny, but it was surprisingly effective. It stopped stressful thoughts from spiralling into inner turmoil and created a constructive space to break concerns down into actionable steps.
Even more importantly, it changed the tone of our week. Because we knew there was a dedicated time to address logistics and worries, our everyday conversations could focus more on meaningful topics rather than the constant background hum of a running to-do list. During those weekly check-ins, we followed a simple structure - meal planning, finances, chores, upcoming events - and that clarity helped us reduce stress and accomplish some pretty big things together over the years.
Since arriving in Italy, with the busyness of the move and the transition that comes with it, we haven’t kept this practice as consistently as we’d like. For the month of March, I’m committing to bringing it back intentionally and making it a priority again as part of the Surefooted Challenge.
The Science Behind It
Gretchen Rubin’s The Happiness Project has shaped my understanding of habits like this. She emphasizes that clarity and intentionality can transform everyday life. By scheduling a specific time to engage with difficult or stressful thoughts, we reduce their unconscious weight and give ourselves a sense of control. Making stress “visible” and time-bound prevents it from spilling into every moment, while also creating space for reflection, problem-solving, and even gratitude.
My “Why”
This habit isn’t about eliminating stress completely - that would be unrealistic. It’s about:
Acknowledging stress without letting it take over
Creating intentional time to process and act on it
Using stress as a tool for clarity rather than letting it be a source of unhappiness
I want to see what changes when I stop letting stress sneak into random parts of my day and instead give it a proper, contained space.
Connection to My Values
This habit reflects values that matter deeply to me:
Intentionality over reaction
Consistency over perfection
Emotional awareness and self-care
Turning challenges into actionable insights
What I Hope to Learn
I’m curious to notice:
How much lighter my day feels when I “contain” stress
How scheduled stress affects my creativity, patience, and focus
Whether consciously setting aside stress creates space for more calm and presence in other areas of life
Invitation
Do you have a habit or practice that helps you process stress intentionally? Could you try scheduling a brief, consistent time each week to notice and work through your own stressful thoughts?
No right answers - just curiosity.