The Power of Stepping Away (and Picking Up a Book 📖)

This week, I’ve been away in our campervan in Henley. Bring on the slower pace of life! And one of the absolute joys? Having the time to read.

Not just a page or two before bed (only to fall asleep and forget it all...same pages again tomorrow night🙈), but proper, uninterrupted reading. The kind where you can actually absorb, reflect and feel what you’re reading.

I’ve been reading I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest with You by Miranda Hart, a thoughtful, honest and surprisingly deep book about her experience with chronic illness, recovery and everything she’s learned along the way.

A Brief Insight Into the Book

At its heart, this book explores how prolonged stress, unhelpful thought patterns and a lack of self-care can impact both our mental and physical health. It blends personal experience with science, neuroscience and practical tools for change. Yep, my inner nerd was revelling in her insights! 🤓

It’s relatable, reassuring and, most importantly, grounded in research.

The Part That Really Stopped Me: Treasure 4 – Thoughts 💭

This section really caught my attention. It links perfectly into everything I have learnt through Solution Focused Hypnotherapy

It dives into how our thoughts are not just fleeting things we can ignore, they shape our biology.

When we’re stuck in negative thinking loops - worry, self-doubt, overthinking, our brain responds as if we’re under constant threat. This activates the stress response again and again, filling what Miranda describes (and I talk about on a daily basis in my therapy sessions) as our “stress bucket.”

And here’s the key part:
When that bucket overflows, it doesn’t just mean we feel anxious or overwhelmed…

It can lead to:

• Exhaustion that doesn’t go away with rest

• A weakened immune system

• A dysregulated nervous system (hello constant tension and poor sleep)

• And eventually, longer-term conditions like burnout, chronic fatigue, depression (to name but a few!)

This isn’t dramatic, it’s neuroscience. And it seems to be spreading like a pandemic in our modern world.

When our brain is overwhelmed, it defaults into survival mode. The rational, problem-solving part of the brain becomes less active and we get stuck in that negative loop where everything feels harder, overwhelming and completely exhausting. Stress is exhausting! Don't underestimate it 😦

Why This Matters More Than Ever

Reading this, away from the usual rush of life, really reinforced something I talk about often:

Looking after ourselves is not a luxury.
It’s not indulgent.
And it is absolutely not a sign of weakness to admit when things feel tough and to make tiny changes that address our needs in that moment.

It’s essential.

Because if we don’t choose to slow down, our body will eventually make that decision for us. Which is what happened to Miranda in a huge way!

That might look like:

• Burnout

• Chronic fatigue

• Low mood or depression

• Illness (can't even begin listing - literally anything. If our immune system is compromised, we are more vulnerable to everything)

Whatever name we give it… it’s a signal. A warning sign that something needs to change.

The Small Shifts That Matter 🌻

What I love about this book is that it doesn’t suggest we need to escape to a holiday home in the south of France (although lovely if you can! ☀️).

Instead, it reminds us that the real power is in the small, consistent shifts:

• 30 minutes with a good book

• A walk in nature

• A proper catch-up with a friend over coffee

• Moving your body (one of the most effective stress-busters there is)

And... starting small. The first walk in nature may be putting on your trainers and finding the will to stand at the back door!

The brain controls everything. And when we reduce stress and break those negative loops, we:

• Support our immune system

• Regulate our nervous system

• Feel calmer, clearer and, quite simply, happier 😃

A Gentle Reminder 🙏🏻

If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just not quite yourself, it might not be something you need to push through.

It might be something you need to listen to. I am a big believer in building resilience to navigate life challenges, but let's be real... sometimes the best thing we can do is just listen to our bodies and STOP. Take a pause and find out what's really going on so we can bounce back brighter and stronger - because we absolutely can 💖

And if you need support navigating that, whether through movement (a powerful way to release stress and reset the body) or solution-focused hypnotherapy (a combination of talking therapy and hypnosis to shift those thought patterns), you know where I am 💛

Lots of love (as always)

Jo x