Do You Know Your Battery Level? Why It Matters before Anxiety Hits

Having anxiety can feel like a constant battle, and when it peaks, we often turn to strategies like breathing exercises, grounding techniques, or distraction to get through the moment. These are incredibly useful, but they’re only part of the picture. We often treat anxiety like something we fight in the moment—breathing exercises, grounding techniques, or pushing through. Research shows that managing anxiety effectively isn’t just about handling it when it arises—it’s also about creating strong foundations that make us more resilient over time (Sapolsky, 2004). Having a reserve of energy, emotional resilience, and self-care practices can make all the difference when anxiety shows up.

When anxiety hits, it’s easy to feel disconnected, overwhelmed, and depleted. And in those moments, the last thing you want to do is go for a walk, eat a healthy meal, or reach out to a friend. But that’s where the battery comes in.

What Is Your Battery, and Why does It Matter?

Think of your battery as your energy reserve against stress and anxiety—the small, consistent things you do that quietly keep you going, even when you don’t realise it.

It’s the healthy meal that stabilises your energy. The walk you took yesterday that helps regulate your nervous system today. The conversation with a friend that reminds you you’re not alone. None of these things feel like an instant fix in the moment. But together, they act like quiet reinforcements, strengthening you before anxiety takes hold. And when stress or anxiety does show up, you’re not completely drained—you have something left in your battery to help you cope.

The Ripple Effect of Small A ctions

We often expect change to be dramatic, but real change is built slowly, through small, everyday actions.

• That walk you took yesterday? It helped lower stress hormones, making today’s worries feel just a little lighter.
• The nutritious meal you had? It supported your mood, so those anxious thoughts about your health aren’t as loud.
• The catch-up with a friend? It helped you feel connected, so when self-doubt creeps in, you have proof that you are seen and valued.

These things might not feel significant in the moment, but they add up—slowly topping up your battery so you’re not constantly running on low battery. Even small actions make a difference, giving you something to draw from when stress hits.

What’s Charging My Battery?

For me, keeping my battery topped up isn’t about big changes—it’s the small, consistent things that make the difference. Walking outside, writing, and taking moments to reflect all help me feel more grounded. Sometimes we find it hard to even think about what makes us feel good, so if this resonates, take a minute to think about the last thing you did that you enjoyed. Taking a moment to check in on your self-care can help you spot potential bumps in the road. If you’re not sleeping well or missing the basics, it can make stressful times even harder to navigate. It’s not about being perfect all the time, but simply keeping an eye on what’s supporting you. If you want an easy way to stay on top of this, download my simple free Selfcare log—a tool designed to help you track your daily habits and notice patterns before stress takes over.

Final Thoughts: How Are You Charging Your Battery?

Anxiety is a normal part of life, but it doesn’t have to control you. The key is not just what you do in the moment, but what you do beforehand—the small, everyday choices that help you stay steady even when stress shows up.

So, do you know your battery level? Are you running low, or are you keeping it charged so stress doesn’t hit as hard? What’s one thing you can do today that your future self will thank you for?

Let’s keep this conversation going! What’s something that helps your battery stay charged? Join my Facebook group and share what works for you—I’d love to hear!