Friday Fieldwork: The Everyday Reset

Use it before stress finds you, or when it already has.

We all know the post-Halloween slide.

One fun-size Snickers turns into a nightly ritual, and before you know it, you’re blaming “holiday stress” for every craving.

Between the candy, the leftovers, and the “I’ll get back on track in January” mindset, most dads fall into what I call The Great Justification Period.

But this season doesn’t need another crash-and-burn plan.

It needs small, steady resets…

the kind that don’t wait for perfect timing, just a willing start.

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This Week’s Fieldwork: The Everyday Reset

Here’s your reset for this week (bonus: no gym, no gear, no excuses):

1. Move - Go for a ten-minute walk. No headphones. No podcasts. No multitasking. Just move and breathe.

2. Notice - Slow your pace. Pay attention to the weather, your breath, the sound of your steps. Let God meet you in the quiet.

3. Give thanks - End with one simple line of gratitude or prayer: “Thank You for another day to start again.”

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Why It Works

This reset works two ways:

• Proactively — as a daily rhythm that keeps you grounded before stress hits. Take ten minutes between meetings, before heading home, or after the kids go to bed.

• Reactively — as a quick way to break the spiral when frustration, cravings, or anxiety hit. Step away. Walk it out. Let your body help your mind reset before your mouth or your phone does something you’ll regret.

Psychologists call this state shifting…

using movement and attention to interrupt autopilot.

It lowers stress hormones,

rebuilds self-trust,

and strengthens your ability to respond instead of react.

And spiritually? It’s a quiet way to invite God back into your rhythm…

before you rush, react, or reach for something that won’t help.

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Closing Reminder