Strategies To Stop Stress From Steering You Wrong

 Decisions + stress =….

    Have you ever made a decision, only to look back and think, “Aw shucks (we’re sure that’s the word that came to mind), that was a really bad idea!” We’ve all been there. Whether it’s a small detour or a major life redirect, our choices shape the course of our lives. And let’s be honest—who doesn’t want to make good decisions?

So why does it feel so hard sometimes? That’s a loaded question, but today we’re diving into one of the biggest culprits: stress.

    Now, not all stress is bad. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) defines stress as our body’s and mind’s response to change or challenge. It can be physical—like a tough workout; emotional—like the excitement before your wedding; cognitive—like solving a tricky problem; or even spiritual—like the awe you feel in worship. Some stress is unavoidable and even essential for growth.

    The problem is when stress turns harmful—when it’s driven by fear, worry, anxiety, or low self-esteem. That’s the kind that tends to cause the most problems.

The truth is though, all stress can cloud our judgment. It puts our body into a fight-or-flight mode, which often leads to rash decision-making. This isn’t the best news since, well, stress is inevitable to some degree. However, while it can’t be completely avoided, it can be managed!

    How, you ask? There are tons of strategies you can use—but today, we’re focusing on three simple ones that can help stop stress from making your decisions for you.

1. Step away! Delay the decision if you can

    When you’re in a moment of high stress, sometimes the best thing you can do is not decide right away. Step back if possible. Set a timeline for when you’ll revisit the issue—it could be minutes, hours, days, or even weeks later. The length depends on how big or urgent the decision is.

A little distance from the situation can go a long way in helping you regain perspective and reason. That being said, we know not every decision can be postponed. And that’s where strategy number two comes in.

2. Can’t delay? At least calm down!

    When stepping away isn’t an option, take a moment to ground yourself. Calming your nervous system is key to getting your body out of fight-or-flight mode.

This doesn’t have to be complicated. It could be as simple as taking 10–30 seconds to slow your breathing, pressing your hands or feet against the ground to anchor yourself in the present, or quietly speaking words of encouragement over yourself.

The goal is to bring yourself out of your head and into the present moment. Ironically, it’s when we’re most grounded in the now that we can make the best choices for the future. Which brings us to our final strategy.

3. Stress sees the short term—look downstream

    Stress causes us to seek immediate relief. And let’s be real—stress isn’t fun! We naturally want it to end as fast as possible, so we tend to pick the path of least resistance.

But if you’ve lived for any amount of time, you’ve probably noticed that what feels good right now doesn’t always lead to good consequences later.

Here’s the tricky part: when we’re stressed to the nines, logic often goes out the window. That’s why this skill works best when paired with one of the other two strategies.

Once you’ve created some distance from the situation, try writing out a quick pros and cons list. Ask yourself:

  • What are the short-term benefits vs. the long-term ones?
  • Does this decision align with my goals and values?

If most of the “pros” relate to immediate comfort or relief, there’s a good chance the choice is being driven by stress rather than clarity.

Wrapping it up…

    Of course, nobody’s perfect. Even with the best strategies, we’ll still make mistakes. And when we do, the best thing we can do is get back up and realign ourselves.

We’d also like to take a moment to encourage those who are currently facing the consequences of stress-driven decisions:

It’s not over.

It’s not too late.

You’re not too far gone.

We can’t change our pasts, but we can choose how to respond to our present. Whatever mistake you’ve made, you can always get back on track. It’s not easy—and sometimes, being “back on track” looks different than we expected.

    But if stress has negatively impacted you once, don’t let it keep running the show. Talk to someone you trust and ask them to help keep you accountable in your decision-making process. It’s time to reclaim your peace of mind and your purpose.

Question time!

    As we mentioned before, there are plenty  of strategies to help manage stress. Here at Wholisitc Living, we’re all about learning from and supporting one another! What’s your go-to strategy to destress? 

Leave a comment with your answer below!

References 

Thank you so much for joining us here at Wholistic Living! We’re so glad you decided to read this post today. We hope it encouraged you, challenged you, and empowered you to keep on in your unique wellness trek. We realize that growth flourishes in community. We don’t have all the answers either, we’re sprouting right along with you! So we’d love to hear your feedback, your thoughts, and your suggestions. Feel free to leave to leave a respectful comment on this post or reach out to us through our Contact Us page!



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