Managing Stress in a Busy Schedule

You cannot delete stress from a full calendar, but you can stop it compounding. Use micro-recoveries: sixty seconds of slow breathing between meetings, a short walk at lunch, shoulders-down posture checks. Time-box your day the night before so mornings start decided, not reactive. Protect one screen-free hour before bed — doomscrolling is stress rehearsal. Learn to say "not this week" to low-priority asks; every yes is borrowed from sleep or family. Exercise three times a week acts as a pressure valve, and if irritability, poor sleep or chest tightness persist for more than a few weeks, talk to a professional early.