Written by Anne Praino, Account Manager
Ever feel like your brain has too many tabs open at once? Emails, deadlines, meetings — and then one more “quick ask” pops up. Or maybe it’s an unexpected request that lands on your desk just as you were starting to make progress on your number one task for the day. Suddenly, that small moment feels much heavier than it should. Your heart starts to race, your shoulders tense and stress takes the wheel. If this sounds familiar, here’s the reassuring truth: there’s nothing wrong with you. You’re not overly sensitive or bad at handling stress. This is your nervous system doing exactly what it’s designed to do — responding to pressure and uncertainty in an effort to keep you safe. Want more good news? This month, we’re going to explore that very reaction and learn simple ways to protect ourselves and regain a sense of calm.
When stress ramps up, I may not be alone when I admit that my first instinct is to “power through.” A better solution? Regulate. That means helping your nervous system settle so you can respond thoughtfully instead of reacting on autopilot. Psychological flexibility is the ability to stay present and act in alignment with your values, even when things feel uncomfortable. And it’s not something we’re simply born with. Just like physical fitness, psychological flexibility can be built and strengthened over time. One way to think about psychological flexibility is as the amount of stretch in our thinking. More stretch means more options. It allows us to pause, take perspective, and choose how we respond – particularly in challenging moments – rather than getting stuck. It requires that we stay open to our emotions instead of immediately trying to escape them and experimenting with new ways of responding when the old ones aren’t helping1.
One of the most helpful ways to stay grounded and practice psychological flexibility (especially when everything feels urgent) is by creating clear boundaries and simple routines. Boundaries are the invisible lines that protect our time, energy and personal space; without them, work can easily bleed into everything else, leading to stress, burnout and decreased productivity. Creating structure in your day – such as setting work hours, blocking time for focused tasks and breaks and being mindful of how much you take on – can significantly reduce overwhelm. When you manage your time realistically and communicate your limits, you’re less likely to overcommit, feel constantly behind or burn out. Setting boundaries is not about doing less or disengaging; it’s about working in a way that’s sustainable, supportive of your mental wellbeing and better for both you and the people you work with2.
For the next 30 days, I invite you to focus on building more presence and stability at work. This doesn’t need to be complicated. You might take three slow breaths before starting your day, stretch your shoulders between tasks or pause to feel your feet on the floor before a meeting. You could focus on doing one thing at a time or say no to one small request that drains your energy. You can also make small changes to your work environment, like stepping outside for some fresh air, turning off email notifications or organizing your workspace so it feels less distracting. Pick one or two simple practices that feel realistic and stick with them for the month. Over the next 30 days, the goal is that these small changes will help you feel calmer, think more clearly and move through your days with more steadiness. To learn more, join us at NFP on May 12 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. for the interactive webinar Staying Present in Unpredictable Times: Cultivating Calm, Connection, and Clarity where we’ll cover how to build mental flexibility during times of uncertainty and learn practical ways to stay present and create calm. Webinar Registration - Zoom. Let’s make a few small changes that will help our nervous system feel safer, our thoughts clearer and our days feel a little steadier — one moment at a time3.
