There is a particular kind of exhaustion that feels very modern. You put your phone down, but your mind hovers over it. “Was that message read?” … “The tick turned blue; they have seen it, but why haven’t they replied yet?” Or a notification arrives, and the clock starts ticking, bringing unspoken pressure: “Respond, now, don’t leave them waiting”.
We carry our smartphones, laptops, and tablets everywhere, and with them the invisible expectation that we are always on, reachable, and available. The boundary between work and rest, between giving and recharging, has dissolved without us noticing. The result is a low hum of stress that follows us everywhere, day and night.
This April, Stress Awareness Month 2026 proposes the theme #BeTheChange. A call to personal agency and action. Let’s not wait for the world to slow down, for others to make the first move or for stress to just disappear.
Be Aware
The first act of change is simply noticing. Notice the small anxiety when your phone stays silent after you have sent a message. Notice the compulsion to check your screen within seconds of a notification. Feel how your shoulders drop (or tighten) depending on what you find. Stress thrives in autopilot. When we pause long enough to observe these reactions without judgement, we begin to see that much of our tension is a response to the device in our pocket.
Self-Care
You don’t have to be available the moment someone decides to reach out. A message can wait. A blue tick is not a contract. Choosing to finish your meal, your walk, your cuppa, your conversation before you reply is self-care in action. Switching off your laptop at a set time and leaving your phone in another room at night are not punishments; they are boundaries. And boundaries are how we protect ourselves from a connected world that will always ask for more.
Dare
This is the fun part. Dare to be a tiny bit unavailable. Dare to notice that the world does not end when you step away from your screen. Dare to be unreachable for an hour and sit with the discomfort until it softens. The anxiety around availability is learned, which means it can be unlearned. Small, consistent acts gradually reshape how your nervous system responds to pressure, sending a quiet but powerful message: “I am in charge.”
The change we are waiting for in the world begins with the change we are willing to make in ourselves. Put the phone down. Let the message wait. Reclaim one quiet moment today, then another one tomorrow and dare to be the change you want to see in your organisation, family, community and life!
Words: Mathilde Barbier
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If you are navigating menopause, the always-on culture of screens and notifications can make an already heightened nervous system feel even more stretched.
We can work together to recalibrate your internal compass, finding stillness amid the noise, identifying what is truly pressing your buttons and restoring a sense of perspective and ease.
Because you deserve to feel well in your body and in your relationship with the world around you.
Dare to find your centre again!
Get in touch: mathilde @ daretobethechange.today – 07947 319 362
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Life is a mosaic—beautiful, messy and ever-changing.
Whether navigating life transitions, seeking community, reflection or wanting to be heard, this safe and nurturing women’s circle is for you.
We connect through authentic storytelling, finding wisdom and inspiration in each other’s experiences.
Let’s co-create a space where you and your guests can soften, breathe, express, explore and just be.
Get in touch: mathilde @ daretobethechange.today – 07947 319 362
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Our Editorial Team are writers and experts in their field. Their views and opinions may not always be the views of Wellbeing Magazine. If you are under the direction of medical supervision please speak to your doctor or therapist before following the advice and recommendations in these articles.
