I have a confession to make: I used to think adaptogens were just another wellness fad. You know, the kind of thing Instagram influencers sprinkle on their smoothie bowls while talking about their “healing journey.” Meanwhile, I was over here thinking, “Yeah, yeah, I just need a good workout and a solid meal.” But then, life happened. Recovery started taking longer, stress hit harder, and suddenly, my morning coffee wasn’t cutting it anymore. That’s when I discovered adaptogens—and let me tell you, they are absolute game-changers for athletic recovery and stress management. If you’re an athlete over 40, or just someone trying to keep up with your training without feeling…
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10 strategies to downregulate the stress response
For most of my life, I’ve prided myself on pushing through challenges with grit and determination—an athlete mentality that has served me well in many areas. But when it comes to stress, this mindset can be a double-edged sword. I’ve often ignored the signals my body sends when it’s overwhelmed: the tightness in my chest, the restless nights, the creeping sense of burnout. Instead of slowing down, I’d power through, thinking rest was a luxury I couldn’t afford. Over time, I’ve learned that this approach only compounds the problem on top of all the deep layers of unresolved trauma I have. This mentality of just putting my head down and…
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My Secret To Surviving Stress
This post was an email I sent to my newsletter subscribers on March 4, 2023. Read time: 2 minutes. The past couple of weeks have been challenging. My car got stolen (and found). I had several hard days at work. And my credit card company called to tell me there were fraudulent charges on my account.My thoughts were telling me “don’t worry, you’re fine, everything’s fine”.But my body and behavior were telling me otherwise. I snapped at my fiancé over silly things. I had low energy and felt a migraine coming on. I had trouble staying focused at work and on the volleyball court. The quality of my workouts was “meh”.Plus,…
