Learning to listen to your body
Noticing, and responding to my body's alarm bells
May has been a lot for me, so far. And it’s only going to get more intense.
I knew it would end up being this way due to a confluence of events:
I’m trying to wrap things up in my current job.
In typical fashion, as colleagues realise that they’ll soon have a relative newbie in the seat, there’s a rush to cram in events, projects and more before I leave.
I’m trying to get everything ready for my successor.
When I started, there was no handover, no guidance from HQ, and that really impacted me: I never quite “got” this job, and no one seemed to know what they wanted from me.
I don’t want my successor to experience that, so I’m trying to be super-prepped. Maybe I’m gold-plating, but I want them to have the best start possible.
I’m moving countries.
I’ve done this lots of times, and this move is relatively simple by comparison. But somehow it feels more stressful this time.
Maybe it’s because I’ve been commuting back and forth at the weekends, painting my flat. Whatever it is, I’m not feeling prepared for the packers arriving tomorrow!
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I’m doing a 6-week intense teacher-training module.
My weekends (when not painting) and evenings are full of Zoom workshops, assignments and self-study.
In an ideal world, I wouldn’t have signed up to do this module at what’s probably the worst time this year (bar my period of bereavement). But the next opportunity will be in 2026, and I can’t wait that long.
I’m teaching a 6-week Introduction to Mindfulness course to my colleagues.
Yes, it’s kind of bonkers to volunteer for this right now given all the work it involves, but it’s my last opportunity before leaving.
Like doing a good handover, this matters to me. And I rationalised it as great hands-on experience that will support my teacher training module.
Everything that could go wrong is going wrong!
I won’t list all my woeful fails, but to give just one example, I’ve had multiple transport failures this week.
I almost missed my Eurostar to London due to tram problems; and DID miss my Eurostar back to Brussels, costing me €130 to switch my ticket to today - a bus crashed into a bridge on my rail route, what are the odds of that?1
All in all, it’s been a rough few weeks, I need a rest, and I know the peak hasn’t hit yet…
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The body keeps the score
Stress and anxiety always show up in my body, even more than my mind.
This was dramatically illustrated to me yesterday morning, when I woke up and thought, “hmmm why does my mouth feel full of grit and crunchy stuff…?”
Cue realising I’d forgotten to wear my mouthguard while sleeping.
I’d apparently ground my teeth so hard that I’d cracked chunks off the crown of my very expensive new dental implant. Ouch.
This was a big wake up call, showing me that I need to take the pressure off myself, avoid perfectionism, and let some things slide.
(Hence another delayed Weekend Reads post – sorry, but I know you lovely readers understand, and I’m practicing what I preach on self-care).
Listening to my body
Listening to my body is helping me to get through this rough period and restoring some calm into my life.
So yesterday, when I missed my Eurostar, I took note of my racing heart and the jittery feeling in my limbs.
And instead of diving into writing or more studying, I brought my luggage back home and then headed to the park.
I took a stroll to discharge the anxious, restless energy in my body, then I laid down on the grass to gaze at the sky and meditate in the sunshine.
It was just what I needed. I felt my heart rate lower, my shoulders drop, the furrows in my brow relax, and the tension in my jaw release.
As I sit on the Eurostar now writing this post, I’m reminding myself to notice what’s going on in my body, and to pause and respond, not react, to it.
My body has the answers, if I just tune in and listen…
What is yours telling you?
Self-reflection and journal prompts ✍️
What do you notice about your body sensations if you pause and observe?
How does stress or anxiety show up in your body? What is it trying to tell you?
Where in your life do you need to reduce the pressure on yourself?
What do you need to let go of or say no to?
Share your perspective in the comments 💬
I’d love to hear your reflections on stress, anxiety and listening to your body. How do you know when you’re doing too much? What helps you to pause and respond with self-care?
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To the best of my knowledge, everyone on the bus was okay, no injuries reported. While the crash messed up my day, I know the experience must have been much worse for them. 💗
Listening to our body resolves so many of our problems but it is so tough when we are not used to doing it! Thank you for this vulnerable post and the useful tips as usual, Holly! All the best with your move!