Episode 5: Constantly Busy? You May Be Stuck In Flight Mode

Feel like you're always busy? Do you struggle with perfectionism? Even when you're trying to relax, does your mind come up with things you should be doing? You may stuck in "flight" mode without even realizing it. 

I can 100% relate to always being busy and having a hard time resting. I need an intervention and it needs to feel easy! Today I'm talking about how I noticed I was starting to get stuck in that flight response and the challenge I'm giving myself to break it. Are you going to join me?!

Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical, mental health, or professional advice. I am a certified health and life coach, not a licensed medical or mental health professional. Please consult with a healthcare provider before making any changes to your physical or mental health routines. If you are experiencing a crisis, seek help from a qualified professional or contact emergency services.

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To learn more about my approach and the programs and free resources available to support you, visit my website: www.lifeboost.today

I love to hear from you. You can always reach me at amelia@lifeboost.today.

Transcript

Amelia 0:00

Hello, this is Dr. Amelia health coach and veterinarian encouraging you to break the norm and live a life that energizes you from within. And I am sitting. On the floor, which is where I always, I always podcast I'm wrapped up in a comforter and it's about five o'clock in the morning. I have a shift at a hospital today and I just finished journaling. So I tend to get up early enough so that I can. Journal, do a little workout, do a little meditation, just mentally prepare for the day that really sets me up for success and just makes the biggest difference in my mindset. And I, this is an impromptu podcast B which honestly they all are right now. Um, cause I just want to talk to you when I'm feeling inspired and. I wanted to share what I was journaling about, because I think that you might need to hear it too. And I want to encourage you to maybe participate in this challenge that I am giving myself because I'm recognizing that I really need it. So here's what's happening. Um, This is an example of how I have learned to be come more aware of my actions and what's happening in my body. Um, And to use that, to change what I am doing to help to break cycles. So right now I am, I'm really happy in general. I'm just loving coaching. I love where I'm at with this balance between my work and my health coaching. And I feel grateful, you know, like I had a vacation, not that long ago. And when I like on paper, when I look at my life and the things that I'm doing, and like making time, for example, to journal and to meditate, like, I feel like I'm doing a great job managing my stress and balancing things. However, my actions speak other. So I am noting that one of the, for nervous system, like stress. Sponsors is showing up. That is flight. So I actually was just recently talking to my group clients about the four different nervous system responses. And I will, I think I'm going to record a podcast episode talking about that because I think you could really benefit from it too. But since this is an impromptu podcast or Jessica to Vocus, Flight today, but the four would be fight or flight and then fawn and freeze. So flight really shows up a lot with perfectionism and it is that urge to just do, do, do it's that feeling of like, if I keep doing, then I can be perfect and then I will be safe. And. I am noticing that I am doing too much. And this is something that recently I've been talking to a lot of my clients about, and I have so much experience with. This need to just like constantly be doing. And that urge to like always be doing things perfectly or like over cheesing, because I I'm programmed that way too. Like, just from early on a lot of, you know, the thing, the way that I was brought up and in childhood really, um, encouraged that. Perfectionism in me. And, um, so I have to make a conscience conscious effort to resist it and to continue to practice and call myself out when it's showing up. So when I look at my behaviors, I. Logically. I feel like I am doing a really good job. Resisting that and that like to manage my stress now, it's not that I'm just doing like workouts that are really intense, which I used to do before, which resulted in me, still stressing my body a little bit. Now I make time to do things like yoga. Journal and meditate. And I do, um, you know, I'll take deep breaths to help to decrease my stress. And so I am doing a much better job of managing my stress, but what's happening is that I still I'm just always doing something. Mind wants to stay really busy. And so like, for example, yesterday was a day when I was, um, w working on health coaching things and some other projects, but it wasn't in a, a vet hospital and the, it was a lot, but it didn't have to take up the whole day. I definitely could have had some breaks and yet I. Was coming up with things that weren't even on my to-do list. So for example, like I had something that I was planning on doing next week, but my brain was like, Ooh, if you do this to today, then maybe you could really rest next week. Um, and. Another thing I've noticed is like the past couple of nights, I have sat down to watch a show like, um, with dinner and I haven't even actually watched the show because instead my prune has been like, oh, maybe you should do this. And it just keeps adding things to do. And this is. I sign that I am a little bit in flight mode of that like constant needing to do, and a way that you can also recognize flight mode is that it feels really uncomfortable when you're completely resting. And so even my activities to. To manage. My stress are doing in some way. So like journaling, I'm actively doing something or when I'm going for a walk, I'm still doing something. And so in some way that is still productive. But if I just sit down and try to like, not think or do. I am. That's so uncomfortable for me that like I'm instantly coming up with, like, I'm either looking at my phone or I'm like, Ooh, what if I should just do this little thing and that needs to stop. So, I was reflecting on what I needed to do and I, I need to. Make a point of making, giving my body some time of doing absolutely nothing. And that is going to feel uncomfortable. And this is something that I really practiced when I was working on people pleasing, which is actually another one of those stress responses. That's more fun. That's like that. I am going to put my desires and needs aside in order to, appease this other person's needs. And then that will help me to be safe if. Just put my needs aside. And in order to overcome people pleasing that just like constantly meant that I needed to recognize when I was having that urge and I needed to like, resist that huge, just natural instinct to basically to. People please, and to not. And so that's what I'm going to need to do right now. So, one of the things that really helps me when I'm recognizing this is to have like a whole day of just like unplugging and, um, like when I have no screens and. No phones at all. A lot of the times it'll be like a Sunday, um, that feels uncomfortable and amazing at the same time and rejuvenating, but here's the thing I keep wanting to do that. And it keeps not happening because like a full day of unplugging is. And right now I'm having a hard time of like even sitting for like two minutes of not doing something, be completely honest. And so I'm a full day is that's too much friction. And when creating new habits, I talk about to my clients about this. It needs to be something that feels doable. So I need to start with like just a few minutes and. Putting that in my calendar. So what I'm challenging myself to do is probably five to 10 minutes. I'm going to say it needs to be at least five of sitting and doing absolutely nothing. So, um, and that's hard, right? Like these days, We need to be doing something. And I think that's exactly what my nervous system needs. You know, like I can breathe, I can do some deep breaths. That's fine, but otherwise nothing. And I'm going to do that each day. I also wanted to just mention that I'm even seeing this show up a little bit with, um, my relationship with food. So I'm recognizing that I, like after dinner or sometimes like, I'm going back for a second. See, even if I'm not really hungry, I, or like, I'm just feeling more snacky and it doesn't really impact my weight because I'm choosing really nutrient dense, plant-based and I am now eating real food where it still is really nourishing. But I still don't want to be doing that. Like, I don't want to be eating past the point when I'm full. I want to be being mindful. But it's still that, Noticing these little things that I'm doing, that aren't normal for me. And that's a sign that even though I don't feel like I'm really stressed, I, I am. That's something that I really encourage you to pay attention to. Because when I, even, when I was majorly stressed and completely burnt out as a veterinarian. I was in denial for a really long time. I was telling myself that I was really healthy, even though I was really like exhausted all the time. I was constantly anxious. I was dealing with brain fog and GI signs. And yet I was telling myself, no, like you work out every day, you're really managing our stress and yeah, you have a high stress job, but you're doing a good job and yeah, your. Completely miserable and unhappy every single day, but you love your job. Like this is what you've wanted to do since you were six. And our brains are really good at convincing ourself otherwise. And it's this awareness, it really took me. Pausing. And, and honestly, for that turning point for me was when a functional medicine nurse practitioner asked me if I was happy as a veterinarian. And when she asked that simple question, I almost just burst into tears. And that response really surprised me because. I didn't even realize I was holding onto and like burying those emotions. It wasn't until that turning point that I really recognized how much I was ignoring my body and mind. And I couldn't talk more about that kind of journey another time, but it wasn't an till I really started listening to. Or learning how to pay attention to these subtle cues of when my body is, and mind are doing things that are not my normal pattern that are assigned, that stress is showing up and that I need to make a conscious effort to change my pattern. So if right now you're noticing that you are maybe just in. Flight mode a little bit, if you are just like constantly having that urge to do more and more and more, because it honestly is addicting. Great. That's why we do it. It feels really good to check things off of a list or to just accomplish things and like to get more done that feels. Great and as addicting, but that doesn't mean that it's good for us. And sometimes the things that are best for us are the things that we're really resisting the most. And so I am challenging myself starting today. I am going to. Take at least five minutes. I'm gonna set my timer and I am just going to sit there. It's gonna be uncomfortable, but it is what I need. And I'm going to encourage you to join me too. So let me know if you have been experiencing this, let me know if you're going to participate. And I hope you have a wonderful week and I'm encouraging you to check in, see if one of these stress responses are showing up for you. Cheers. Your inevitable health, happiness, and success.