Three Steps for Dealing with Stress 🤬

I. When DIY goes wrong 🔧

Last week, my dishwasher suddenly stopped working. Despite our best attempts to fix it, it was beyond repair. So, we decided to go shopping for a new one.

The delivery was free, but there was an additional £120 charge for installation. Thinking I could handle it myself, I declined the offer. After all, removing the old dishwasher seemed easy enough. How hard could it be, right?

Well, it turned out to be a bit trickier than expected. It took me a good four hours of huffing, puffing, and a few choice words to get the job done. Just when I thought I was finished, I realised that the waste pipe didn't fit because it was a different size than the old one. What a bummer! Feeling a bit panicked, I quickly searched online and found a new part to fix the problem.

Finally, I thought I was done. But then, water started leaking from the washing machine (which I had to move to install the new part). Now, I have an unknown leak and no idea what to do next.

My kitchen is currently adorned with two soaked towels desperately trying to absorb the water. The whole process has been stressful, but up to a certain point, it was manageable and, honestly, a little bit fun. However, it quickly went from being a good stress to a bad stress, leaving me feeling self-critical, frustrated, and irritable.

Stress is a curious thing. It is often seen in a negative light, yet it is absolutely essential for growth, learning, and progress. We stress our bodies with weights to make our muscles adapt and grow. We stress our brains with challenges to advance and acquire new skills. Stress itself is not inherently bad; it is a response to a "stressor," some kind of change. So, when does stress become maladaptive?

When we feel confident in our ability to overcome a stressor, it's typically a good stress. We focus on finding solutions, our motivation increases, and we strive for a positive outcome -- That was me up until the "leak". However, when our perceived ability is overwhelmed by the stressor, things start to go downhill. This is known as distress: we become fixated on problems, we feel overwhelmed, and our performance suffers.

I have definitely slipped into distress. The good news is that it is within my control to make a course correction.

Step #1 - Take a breath.

Yes, I know that sounds daft. How is breathing going to help? Yet when we feel overwhelmed, our breathing is usually the first thing to change. We start taking shorter, shallower breaths as our body switches into "fight mode." instead focus on taking long, slow, and deep breaths.

Step #2 - Show some self-compassion.

Cut yourself some slack. Yes, there's a problem. Maybe it could have been avoided, but you can still learn something from it, and you definitely can't change the past. Being self-critical keeps you in distress and further away from finding solutions.

Step #3 - Get back into problem-solving mode, including seeking help.

I could turn off the water to the washing machine to see if it's the pipe or machine or remove the machine again to trace the source of the leak. Alternatively, I could call a handyman and ask for assistance. Avoid isolating yourself with the problem; remember, there are people who can help.

Now to follow my own advice 🤣

II. Split Stance RDL.

Ohh it's been a while since I've had the pleasure of experimenting with these. Split Stance RDLs are an awesome exercise in their own right or as a part of a warm-up for heavy swings & deadlifts.

An important thing to remember when doing any RDL is to focus on those hips. Keep pushing your butt back while keeping your knees slightly bent. Put more emphasis on moving your butt back rather than down.

Check it out here...