Stress Is Like a Dumbbell, It Only Makes You Stronger If You Put It Down
Have you ever thought about the fact that how you manage stress works the same way you build muscle? Think about it for a second. Can you hold a 50 lb weight above your head all day, every day, without a break? Probably not! You’d need to rest every few minutes, take a deep breath, maybe sip some water. And after repeating the hold and rest routine for, say, 20 minutes, you'd need to put the weight down and recover properly, rest, sleep well, eat a nutritious meal, hydrate, maybe go for a leisurely walk in nature with a friend.
Remember: muscles are built during the recovery phase, not during the workout itself. When you lift a weight, you actually cause small tears in the muscle fibers. It’s the recovery that allows them to heal and grow stronger, bigger, and more resilient, so that next time, you can lift 55 lbs instead of 50.
If you never put the weight down, those muscles might tear or get damaged beyond repair, potentially keeping you from working out again. The weight you pick up itself isn’t bad, it’s how you handle it that determines whether it helps you grow or wears you down.
It’s the same with stress.
We can't get rid of all the stressors in our lives, and we wouldn't want to. When managed well, stress helps us learn, grow, and get stronger. Just imagine a life without any challenges, no stress, no pressure. You might never try new things, stretch yourself, or grow. (Kind of like lifting the same 20 lb weight over and over… not very effective!)
The key is how we manage stress.
Our bodies are built to handle short bursts of stress. We stress about something, take action, and then recover, so we're ready for the next challenge.
But in today’s world, we seem to skip the recovery.
Why?
How much time does it really take to reflect on a situation? To take the stairs instead of the elevator? To stand up from your desk and stretch? To take a sip of water, grab a carrot for a snack, or put your phone down an hour before bed and simply unwind?
Probably not that much.
But the benefit? Profound.
Every one of those actions is a form of recovery, just like rest between workouts. Those little moments are where we build resilience. Adding just a few minutes of intentional recovery to your day can help you increase your stress baseline, so you’re better equipped to face the next stressor that comes your way.
Take some time to be kind to yourself.
