Before you say you’re overwhelmed…
December 21, 2025
There’s a lot more emotional pressure in the air right now, families, expectations, plans, old patterns, end-of-year tension. This naturally puts more strain on your nervous system. If you’ve felt more reactive or easily overwhelmed, you’re not alone, and nothing is “wrong”, your body is just doing what bodies do under pressure.
And if you’re paying attention, you may notice something else too:
You start skipping.
Skipping over your feelings, your limits. your capacity.
Like everyone else, you’re likely trying to push through to get everything done, keep the peace and hold the vision of a joyful season with the people you love.
But here’s the thing:
Your nervous system knows before you do.
Long before you say, “I’m overwhelmed,” your body is whispering clues:
- Tightness
- Shallow breath
- Clenched jaw
- Fluttering in belly
- Pit in stomach
While they make you feel uncomfortable and like problems to solve; they’re actually information — feedback and intelligent signals from your body about what you need to pay attention to.
And when you skip over those signals, two things happen:
1️⃣ You disconnect from yourself.
2️⃣ You disconnect from others
Because when you are not connected to yourself, you cannot connect with others.
So this week, as things get full and emotions run high, I want to invite you to try something different:
Check in with your body daily.
It takes just a few moments.
Ask yourself:
- What sensations do I notice?
- What emotions am I aware of?
- What thoughts are swirling in my head?
That’s it. It really is that simple.
Every time you check in, you return to yourself.
There’s no need to change, fix, or shift anything.
Just notice, accept, and allow yourself to be where you are.
Because when you return to yourself, you become more available for connection with the people you love.
Your nervous system is not the obstacle.
It’s your guide.
in trust and gratitude,
Annmarie Chereso
Author, Speaker, Coach, & Meditation Teacher
P.S. If you want support checking in with your body, my free Check-In Practice guide walks you through it step-by-step. It’s simple, grounding, and takes less than a minute a day.