There is a certain type of fatigue that feels very modern. You put your phone down, but your mind wanders over it. “Has that message been read??” … “The tick turned blue, they saw it, but why haven’t they responded yet?” Or a notification comes, and the clock chimes, bringing unspoken stress: “Answer now, don’t wait for them.”
We carry our smartphones, laptops and tablets everywhere and with them we have the invisible expectation that we are always at hand, available and accessible. The boundaries between work and rest, between giving and recharging, have dissolved without us noticing. The result is a low-stress sound that follows us everywhere day and night.
this april Stress Awareness Month 2026 presents the topic #Be the change. 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 the stress to simply go away.
Be aware
The first act of change is simply noticing. Notice the minor annoyance when your phone goes off after sending a message. Notice the urge to check your screen for seconds after the notification. Feel how your shoulders drop (or tighten) depending on what you find. Stress develops on autopilot. When we stop long enough to observe these reactions without judgment, we find that much of our tension is a response to the device in our pocket.
Self care
You don’t have to wait for the moment someone decides to contact you. The message can wait. The blue icon is not a contract. Choosing to finish your meal, walk, cup, conversation before you answer is self-care in action. Turning off the laptop at the appointed time and leaving the phone in another room at night is not a punishment; they are boundaries. And borders are how we protect ourselves from a connected world that always demands more.
Courage
This is the fun part. Dare to be a little elusive. Take heart that the world doesn’t end when you step away from your screen. Dare to be untouchable for an hour and sit uncomfortably until it softens. Anxiety about existence is learned, which means it cannot be learned. Small, consistent actions gradually change how your nervous system responds to stress, sending a quiet but powerful message: “I am the leader.”
The change we want to make in the world begins with the change we are willing to make in ourselves. Put the phone down. Let the message wait. Restore one quiet moment today, then another tomorrow, and dare to be a change you want to see in your organization, family, community and life!
Words: Mathilde Barbier
Reset your internal compass
1:1 Sessions
If you’re navigating menopause, the always-on culture of screens and notifications can further strain an already heightened nervous system.
We can work together to reset your internal compass, find stillness amidst the noise, identify what really pushes your buttons, and restore a sense of perspective and ease.
Because you deserve to feel good about yourself and your relationship with the world around you.
Dare to find your center again!
Contact: mathilde @ daretobethechange.today – 07947 319 362
Would you like to start a Women’s Change Club in your local community?
Life is a mosaic—beautiful, messy, and ever-changing.
Whether navigating life’s transitions, seeking community, reflecting, or wanting to be heard, this safe and nurturing circle of women is for you.
We connect through authentic stories, finding wisdom and inspiration in each other’s experiences.
Let us create a space where you and your guests can relax, breathe, express, explore and be alone.
Contact: mathilde @ daretobethechange.today – 07947 319 362
https://www.daretobethechange.today
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