Reset Your Clocks AND Your Stress!

Fall Back to Gratitude: Using the Time Change to Reset and Lower Stress

As the clocks “fall back” and daylight hours shorten, many of us feel a natural urge to reset, nestle into seasonal comforts, and prepare for the busy months ahead. However, the annual time change is more than a schedule adjustment. It’s a powerful reminder to refocus our mindset, allowing us to step back from problem-solving mode and instead fall back to gratitude.

This season brings plenty of demands—from high school seniors facing the pressure of college applications to families navigating new school schedules to the extra work preparing for the holidays. These challenges can all too easily trigger a stress response, where we instinctively focus on potential problems. But what if we could use this time change to shift our focus to the positive? By emphasizing gratitude over challenges, we reduce stress, feel more resilient, and truly embrace what this season offers.

The Power of Gratitude to Lower Stress

Our brains are built to look for problems to solve. This problem-solving focus naturally triggers our stress response. However, focusing on what’s working well and what we can celebrate interrupts the stress response and makes us feel better. This is how gratitude can be a buffer against stress. As I often say to audiences, when we “focus on the possible rather than dwelling on the difficult,” it invites a powerful shift, transforming challenges into growth opportunities and helping us feel resilient in the face of uncertainty. Simply looking for reasons to be grateful resets your brain and reduces stress.

Three Tips to Shift Focus to Gratitude This Autumn

To make the most of this seasonal reset, here are three ways to cultivate gratitude and calm:

1. Share a Daily “Woo Hoo”: Set a timer on your phone or watch (let’s say at 3 pm). When that time arrives, share one positive thing about your day with someone else. ” I found a great parking place this morning, WOO HOO!” for example. It doesn’t have to be big – although sharing big wins is excellent, too. When you share something positive, it invites the other person to share something good. These “woo hoo” moments force your brain to shift to looking for the positive. It’s a simple but powerful tool for keeping stress at bay.
2. Reframe Stressful Moments: Your coworker probably didn’t wake up this morning planning to ruin your day… probably. The impact of unpleasant interactions triggers stress. Ask yourself a couple of questions such as:
   1. What if this isn’t really about me?
   2. What else could be going on with my coworker?
   3. Does this interaction deserve my continued attention?
3. Practice Self-Kindness and Get Cozy: Autumn brings crisp air, warm colors, and moments made for savoring. It can also be jam-packed with obligations. Be kind to yourself and remember that watching a sunset, walking through crunchy leaves, or enjoying a hot drink with someone you care about isn’t selfish. Activities that allow you to reset and recover are essential to living and working well under the stress you can’t avoid.

As the clocks change, use this seasonal shift to reset, refocusing on gratitude rather than searching for what’s not working. Falling back to gratitude lowers stress and allows us to truly enjoy this season and the upcoming holidays with a renewed sense of peace and joy.

Want more tips on your path to living and working well under the stress you can’t avoid?

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