We Learn by Doing": What a Stressful Week Teaches You About Handling Stress

 Day 283 of 2026

Hi Friends,

"For the things we have to learn before we can do, we learn by doing." Aristotle

This week handed me a lot of practice. Nonstop requests, a workload that doubled while the day stayed 24 hours long, and dinners that went sideways. In my last two posts I wrote about ordering dinner and taking a five-minute walk, and then about planning a minimum day. Both came out of the same week, and neither came from a book. I figured them out in the middle of the mess, exactly what Aristotle described.

Why Stress Can't Be Learned in Advance

Most of us believe we will handle stress better once we have read enough, planned enough, or found the right system. We save articles about calm mornings and boundaries, and we tell ourselves we will start when things settle down. But things rarely settle down, and you don't build the skill in quiet weeks.

Think about learning to drive. You can memorize every rule, but you only become a driver by sitting behind the wheel, stalling once or twice, and getting a feel for the pedals. Handling pressure works the same way. You learn it by being in it, making a so-so choice, and noticing what helped.

That is the part of the quote I find freeing. It means a hard week doesn't prove you are bad at stress. It's where the skill gets built.

What This Week Actually Taught Me

Looking back, my best ideas this week were small and showed up late. The first came on a day when I had no energy to cook, and I ordered dinner without guilt for the first time. I sat at the table with my family, and the evening felt better than any homemade meal I had forced myself to make. Lesson learned: being present matters more than being impressive.

The second came on Tuesday, staring at two lists that would not fit into one evening. I asked what the smallest acceptable version of the day looked like, and the minimum day was born. I would never have thought of it on a calm Sunday. It took the pressure to produce it.

Neither idea was brilliant. Both were practical, and both were tested the same day I came up with them. That is learning by doing in its simplest form: try something small, see how it feels, keep what works.

How to Learn From a Hard Week While You're In It

You do not need extra time or a journal for this. A few quick habits turn a stressful week into training.

Notice what helped, even a little. At the end of the day, ask one question: what made today even ten percent easier? It might be a walk, an early lunch, or saying no to a meeting. Jot it on a sticky note or in your phone, because tired brains forget fast.

Notice what made it worse, too. Maybe you checked email in bed, skipped lunch, or agreed to something you should have declined. This is not for guilt. It is simply information for next time.

Change one thing at a time. If you try five new habits during a heavy week, none of them stick. Pick one, like the five minute walk, and repeat it for three days. Small experiments are easier to run and easier to judge.

Keep the experiments cheap. A good test costs almost nothing: ten minutes, a different dinner plan, a message to a friend. If it fails, you have lost very little. If it works, you have something real.

Give Yourself Permission to Be a Beginner

One reason we resist learning by doing is that it means being clumsy at first. We want to handle stress like a calm, experienced person, so every shaky day feels like failure. But everyone who looks calm under pressure got there through many messy weeks and by paying attention to them.

So if you drop the ball, lose your patience, or end the day with cereal for dinner, you are not behind. You are practicing. The goal is not to be perfect this week. It is to be a little wiser than you were last week.

It also helps to be kind about the pace. Some lessons arrive within a day, and others take a few weeks to sink in. You may not know yet what this week taught you, and that is fine.

Carrying the Lessons Forward

When the stress eases, take ten minutes to collect what you learned. Open a note and write down the two or three things that helped, in your own words. Mine would say: order dinner, take the short walk, and plan the minimum day. That list is more useful than any article, because it comes from your own life and your own limits.

Next time a heavy week arrives, you won't start from zero. You will have a small toolkit you built yourself, and you will know it works because you used it.

Aristotle was right that we learn by doing. This week wasn't pleasant, but it was useful, and I would rather leave with a few real tools than a long list of things I meant to try.

If you are in the middle of your own hard week, pick one small thing to try tomorrow, and let that be your practice.

Wishing you peace and happiness from my heart to yours!

Peace

Monita

When Stress Doubles but the Day Doesn't: Plan a Minimum Day

 Day 282 of 2026

Hi Friends,

In my last post, I wrote that it's okay to order dinner and take a five minute walk when work is nonstop. This is the follow up, because I left something out: sometimes the week gets heavier, and a takeout bag and a lap around the block are not quite enough on their own.

This week, the stress doubled. More work landed on my desk, the same number of hours exist to do it, and life at home did not pause to make room. Nobody warns you about that part. The workload grows, but the day stays exactly 24 hours long.

Around 4:00 on Tuesday, I caught myself staring at two lists, one for work and one for home, trying to make both fit on a single evening. They did not fit. Not even close. I sat there for a minute, and then I did something I had never done before. I asked myself what the smallest acceptable version of today looked like.

I call it a minimum day. It is the bare version of your day that still keeps things safe and steady. For me, that meant one work task that truly had to go out before morning, one real meal, a text to my teenagers to see how their day went, and bed at a decent hour. Everything else was a bonus.

That list felt almost embarrassing at first, because it was so short. But a funny thing happened. Once I wrote down the minimum, the rest of the evening stopped feeling like a failure waiting to happen. I finished the task by 6:30, ordered dinner (see my last post, I meant it), and ate at the table. Everything after that was extra.

The reason it works is simple. When stress doubles, we usually try to double our effort, and that is how people end up exhausted by Thursday. A minimum day does the opposite. It protects the floor, so a bad day can bend without breaking.

If you want to try it, pick your floor in three parts. One thing for work that cannot slip. One thing for the people at home, even if it is only ten minutes of real attention. One thing for yourself, like a shower, a five-minute walk, or lights out by 10:00. Write it down where you can see it. If you finish all three, the day was a success, no matter what is left over.

Think of the last post as the comfort kit and this one as the plan. Deep breaths, an easy dinner, and a short walk keep you steady inside the day, and the minimum day decides how much the day gets to ask of you.

Some days you will clear the minimum and have energy left, and that is a good day too. But on the weeks when everything doubles, knowing exactly what counts takes away the constant, nagging feeling that you are behind on everything.

This stretch will not last forever. Until it passes, I am measuring the day by what protected my peace, not by how much I crossed off.

Have a steady rest of your week.

Wishing you peace and happiness from my heart to yours!

Peace

Monita

A Nonstop Work Week? It's Okay to Order Dinner and Take a Five Minute Walk

 Day 281 of 2026

Hi Friends,

I am a little behind, and work has been nonstop. Requests for reports, analysis, and details are endless, leaving no room for a breather. Lunch and dinner have definitely gone sideways. I'm not new to this stress, and it's all too familiar, but I keep hoping leadership will think more strategically instead of getting involved in the minute details. So far, they don't.

Here is what I have decided this week: it is okay to lower the bar. On a week like this, the goal is not to run a perfect routine. The goal is to get through with enough left in the tank for the people at home, and sometimes that means letting a few things be easy.

It is okay to order dinner. I used to treat takeout as a planning failure, but a hot meal that shows up at the door isn't a failure. It is one fewer decision, one fewer pan to wash, and an extra half hour of sitting down. Some weeks the best thing you can do for your family is to be at the table, not at the stove.

It is okay to take five minutes. If you can, step outside and walk around the block. No phone, no podcast, no destination. Five minutes isn't much, but a change of scenery and fresh air can break the tight loop your mind gets stuck in on a heavy day. If you cannot get outside, stand at a window for a few minutes and watch the street.

A few deep breaths count, too. Breathe in through your nose for four counts and out slowly for six. Do it three times between meetings, in the elevator, or in the car before you go inside. It sounds too simple to matter, but a long exhale tells your body it can stand down a little.

Here are some other small things that help on weeks like this, none of which take real effort.

Let a meal be a snack plate. Cheese, crackers, fruit, nuts, and leftover chicken are dinner, and nobody has to cook. Stop at the store only for what you can eat tonight, not for a full week of groceries.

Say it out loud. A short message to a friend or a coworker you trust, like "this week is a lot," can take some of the weight off. You do not need advice. Being heard is often enough.

Let one thing go on purpose. Pick one task, like folding the laundry or answering a non-urgent message, and decide it can wait until the weekend. Dropping one thing deliberately feels very different from dropping it by accident.

Put on something that makes you feel good. Play a favorite song on the drive home, put on a comfortable shirt, take a warm shower, or watch a show you have already seen five times. Comfort is not a luxury when you are stretched thin.

Go to bed a little earlier. Even thirty minutes helps. A tired mind sees every request as an emergency; a rested one can sort what matters from what doesn't.

I can't make leadership more strategic, and I can't make the requests stop. What I can do is take care of the person doing the work. Some weeks that looks like a takeout bag on the counter and a quick lap around the block, and that is enough.

Hope you have a steady rest of your week.

Wishing you peace and happiness from my heart to yours!

Peace

Monita

Month End Panic: How to Stay Calm When Leadership Is Stressed

 Day 280 of 2026

Hi Friends,

So today was really interesting. Senior leadership had some "oh no" moments, and there are usually quite a few. But today was different. You could tell the tone was high-pitched and stressed. An accounting entry was missing, but it wasn't the end of the world since we had time to enter it. Still, the initial morning tone set the day off differently.

The one thing I did first was roll my eyes. This situation is not new to me, and don't worry, I was not on camera. It's the usual month-end panic for no real reason. Folks, things can be fixed. It was something I wanted to scream at them.

What I noticed, though, is how quickly panic travels. One tense message at 8:30 turned into three people double-checking the same number, and by 9:00 the whole team was moving faster and breathing shallower. Nothing about the entry itself had changed. Only the urgency grew, and urgency is contagious.

That is why the eye roll, as satisfying as it was, was not the useful part of my morning. The useful part came right after, when I asked myself a simple question: what is the actual problem? A missing entry. How long does it take to fix? Not long. Who needs to know once it is done? A short note to one person. Once the problem was that size, it stopped feeling like a crisis and became a task again.

I think this is a skill worth building if you work in finance, with deadlines, or with anyone who runs hot at the end of the month. When the room speeds up, slow your own pace on purpose. Answer in a calm, even tone. Repeat the facts back plainly, like "The entry is missing, and we have time to post it." Panic needs an audience to grow, and a steady voice takes away some of the fuel.

It also helps to keep your frustration for later. Rolling your eyes off camera is human, and I am not going to pretend I am above it. But the moment you say the sharp thing out loud, you become part of the noise. Save the venting for a walk, a friend, or a blog post.

The lesson is that some people never learn, no matter how many years of experience they have. Even as a senior leader, some people never truly control their anxiety. That is not mine to fix. What I can control is my response: do the work, stay steady, and let the panic pass.

Wishing you peace and happiness from my heart to yours!

Peace

Monita

A No List Way to Do Your Grocery Shopping

 Day 279 of 2026

Hi Friends,

Happy Monday!

I realized I am usually pretty organized when it comes to getting groceries, but lately I haven't been. I keep forgetting things, running out more often, and making extra trips to the store. Then I walk up and down the aisles as if I have never been to a grocery store, lost, with an empty cart. Fifteen minutes in and I barely have what I need.

Here is the thing: I do not write lists. I have tried, and I just do not like it. Writing things down feels like another chore, and I always end up leaving the paper on the counter anyway. If you feel the same, you don't have to force it.

What works for me is much simpler. I keep one or two meals in my mind and shop for just those. That is it. Instead of trying to remember everything the house might need, I pick tonight's dinner and maybe tomorrow's, and I think through what goes into them.

Say I am planning a pasta night. I picture the pot on the stove and ask myself what is going in it. Pasta, a good sauce, some garlic, fresh basil, maybe a bag of salad on the side. When I walk in with a picture in my head, my feet know where to go. The aisles stop feeling confusing because I am not hunting for a vague idea of everything. I am hunting for a handful of things.

This has changed how much I buy, too. When I used to shop without a plan, I would toss things in the cart just in case, and then half of it sat in the fridge until it went bad. Shopping for one or two meals keeps the cart light and the fridge fresh. Less waste, less clutter, and a little more money staying in my pocket.

The other thing I did not expect is how much I enjoy the trip now. Because I am only picking up a few things, it becomes a small outing instead of a big task. I get out of the house, breathe some fresh air, and take a few minutes away from whatever I was doing. Even the walk from the parking spot to the door feels good.

I also get a few extra steps in. Walking the aisles at an easy pace, stopping at the produce section, and carrying a basket instead of a big cart all add up. It is not a workout, but it is movement, and it is movement I did not have to schedule.

If you forget something, that is okay. A quick stop tomorrow is no big deal, and it gives you another excuse to step outside. The goal is not a perfect pantry. It is a simple routine that works for you.

So if lists are not your thing, try it. Pick one or two meals, picture what goes in them, and head out the door.

What is your go-to way of shopping when you do not want to write a list?

Wishing you peace and happiness from my heart to yours!

Peace

Monita

Admire More: A Sunday Motivation Reminder from Vincent Van Gogh

 Day 278 of 2026

Hi Friends,

"Admire as much as you can; most people don't admire enough." Vincent Van Gogh

Sunday is the perfect day to slow down and look around. The week ahead will bring its own noise, but today you get to choose what you notice.

Admiring is simply paying attention with appreciation. It means noticing something good and letting yourself enjoy it.

It could be a sunrise, a well-made cup of tea, or a friend's kindness. It could be a stranger's talent or a tree that has been growing quietly for decades. Life moves fast. We scroll, rush, and compare instead of appreciating what is already in front of us.

Admiration asks us to pause. In that pause, we often find gratitude, calm, and a little spark of inspiration.

Three ways to practice today

Admire nature. Step outside and look up. Notice the sky's color or the shape of the clouds.

Admire people. Think of someone who inspires you and tell them. A short message can make their whole day.

Admire your own progress. Give yourself credit for how far you have come, even if the steps were small.

Van Gogh saw beauty in ordinary things like wheat fields, starry skies, and a simple chair. That is what made his art so alive.

You can do the same. Look for one thing each day to admire, and watch how your week begins to feel lighter and brighter.

Your Sunday question: What is one thing you admire today?

Wishing you peace and happiness from my heart to yours!

Peace

Monita

A Simple Self Care Checklist for Your Weekend

 Day 277 of 2026

Hi Friends,

The weekend arrives, and somehow we fill it with errands, laundry, and a to-do list that never ends. By Sunday night, we feel more tired than we did on Friday.

This weekend, try something different. Skip the big plans and choose three small things that actually refill your cup. No pressure, no perfection, just a simple checklist you can tick off.

Enjoy your coffee slowly

Make it a moment, not a habit. Pour it into your favorite mug and sit down with it. Put your phone in another room. Notice the warmth of the cup and the smell as it brews. Savor the first sip especially.

Even ten minutes without scrolling can change the tone of your whole morning. If you are a tea person, the same rule applies.

Choose your spot the night before, whether it is the sunny chair by the window or the back porch. Having a plan makes it feel special.

Have a relaxed dinner, or skip the cooking

After a full week, nobody needs a complicated recipe. Give yourself permission to keep dinner easy.

Order in from your favorite spot. Pick up something on the way home. Or put together a simple plate of cheese, fruit, bread, and whatever leftovers are waiting in the fridge.

The goal is not a perfect meal. It is a calm one. Light a candle, put on some music, and eat without rushing.

If you do cook, keep it to one pan and a short list of ingredients. Breakfast for dinner counts too.

Move your body with a walk

You do not need a gym or a fancy plan. A walk around the block counts.

Go for twenty minutes, or just until you feel your shoulders drop. Leave the headphones at home if you can, or choose a podcast or playlist you truly enjoy.

Notice the trees, the sky, the neighbors' gardens. Fresh air and gentle movement do wonders for stress, and you often come back with a clearer head than when you left.

If the weather is bad, put on a favorite song and stretch or dance in the living room. Movement is movement.

Keep it simple

Self-care does not have to be expensive or time-consuming. Sometimes it is just a warm drink, an easy dinner, and a walk in the sunshine.

If you only manage one of the three, that is still a win. Be kind to yourself, tick off what you can, and let the rest go.

Your weekend checklist:

☐ Enjoy a slow cup of coffee
☐ Have a relaxed dinner or skip the cooking
☐ Move your body with a walk

Which one will you start with? Happy weekend!

Wishing you peace and happiness from my heart to yours!

Peace

Monita