When It Feels Like Everything’s on Fire
Some days it feels like the world is burning—politics, the news cycle, climate disasters, the demands of work and caregiving, our own bodies that don’t always cooperate.
When everything feels on fire, our nervous systems respond in kind. The body reads urgency everywhere: shallow breathing, racing thoughts, the pressure to do more, faster, better. It’s not just stress—it’s survival mode (it’s also capitalism, white supremacy, and the patriarchy…but that’s a story for another time).
In survival mode, time itself warps. Every task feels urgent. Every plan feels impossible. Our energy drains faster than expected, and suddenly the day is over before we’ve even caught our breath.
I’ve been there more times than I can count. And here’s the truth I keep coming back to:
The first step isn’t fixing everything. It’s taking one breath.
A slow inhale.
A gentle pause.
A soft exhale.
That one breath gives your nervous system a tiny cue of safety. It reminds your body: you are here, right now, in this moment. It creates just enough space for the next breath, the next choice, the next small action.
When everything feels like too much, starting with one breath is a radical act.
Why This Matters for Time
So many of us blame ourselves for being “bad at time management.” But often, the real issue is that we’re living in dysregulated states—hyperarousal (everything feels urgent) or hypoarousal (everything feels impossible).
When we can regulate, even just a little, time itself feels more manageable. Suddenly, there’s space to pause and ask: What’s truly necessary? What can wait?
That’s where tools like buffer time, boundaries, and planning differently come in. It’s not about squeezing more into your calendar—it’s about creating breathing room.
Buffer time: leaving space between commitments so your body and mind can reset.
Boundaries: protecting your energy by saying no (or not right now).
Gentle planning: focusing on containers and priorities instead of cramming every minute.
These tools don’t eliminate stress, but they prepare you to handle stress better. They give you the structure and permission to move through your days in a way that actually honors your energy.
🕰 TIME TO BREATHE (Starts in 1 Hour)
Monday, August 18th
5 PM PT / 8 PM ET
Free • Virtual • Open to All
In tonight’s Recharge Room, we’ll:
Explore why time often feels like it’s slipping through our fingers
Learn how stress and the nervous system change our perception of time
Practice gentle, realistic strategies for breathing room: buffer time, boundaries, and saying no
End with a guided regulation exercise so you leave feeling steadier
✨ Register here to join us tonight → [Register Now] ✨
You don’t need to solve everything today. You don’t need to hold the whole fire all at once.
You only need to start with one breath.
And if you’d like some company in finding that breath—and learning the tools to protect it—I hope you’ll join us in the Recharge Room tonight.
With care,
Lauren