Marianne Preston

Coach- Life Transitions & Burnout Recovery

Newsletter:
April 14, 2025

Fountain with statue surrounded by water and greenery.

Hey there Reader,

Because sometimes the best thing we can do is just shift the energy.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how our bodies hold the weight of stress.

You know the kind—tight shoulders, foggy brain, that pull toward comfort food or the resistance to doing the one small thing that would probably help.

Maybe you're not sleeping well. Maybe you’ve been meaning to move your body, but the day just keeps slipping by. Maybe you're just tired in a way that rest doesn't quite fix.

I get it. I’ve been there. Honestly, I was there just last week.

I had a day that started to go sideways. Nothing big happened, but I felt myself slipping into that heavy, sticky space. The kind where the to-do list feels like a mountain, and joy feels like it’s on the other side of a locked door.

And to be totally honest, underneath that heaviness was something else, too—guilt.

Guilt for not taking the action I know I need to take.

Guilt for seeing other people doing the things I want to be doing. And that old familiar voice of comparison started creeping in.

Why does it look so easy for everyone else?

Why am I not doing more?

That’s the trap. And I know it. So when that voice gets louder, it’s a red flag.

A sign that I need to stop spinning in it—and start moving, even if it’s imperfect. Because sitting on the couch, making another list about all the things I should be doing, doesn’t make me feel better. It just piles on the pressure.

So instead of spiraling, I paused and asked:
How can I make the next hour feel good?
Not perfect. Not wildly productive. Just better. Lighter.

That simple question changed everything.

I gave myself five small anchors—things that would regulate my body, clear some space in my mind, and actually bring me joy.

Here’s what that looked like for me:

Started writing this newsletter. Just letting the thoughts flow felt grounding. It was something I wanted to do.
Planned a little outing with my aging dog. I’m so aware of his years now, and I don’t want to miss the chance to soak up this time with him.
Tackled a cluttered space I’ve been avoiding. Not because I love organizing (I don’t), but because the avoidance was weighing me down.
Reached out to two friends I’ve been thinking about. You know how someone just pops into your head and stays there? That’s a cue. Follow it.
Cooked a sweet little meal for just my husband and me. Simple, cozy, and grounding. And yes, I made those homemade cottage cheese bagels for lunch again.

The point isn’t that these things were big or fancy. They weren’t. But they shifted the energy.

They helped my body feel a little safer, a little more at ease. And they reminded me that joy isn’t some far-off destination. It’s available in the small, intentional choices we make throughout the day.

A Few Gentle Reminders (for both of us):

Start with awareness. How does your body feel right now? Where's the tension? What are you avoiding? Where does comparison sneak in?
Name it. Simply identifying what’s happening can make it feel less overwhelming.
Move. Movement doesn’t have to be exercise. It can be cleaning a drawer, taking a short walk, stretching in your kitchen. Movement is life.
Pick one thing that brings you pleasure. Not because it’s productive. Just because it feels good. A song. A text to a friend. Watering a plant. Laughing at a silly reel.
Let joy count. It’s not a luxury. It’s part of how we come back to ourselves.

We don’t need to fix our whole lives in a day. But we can choose something that lifts us. We can create space in our bodies and in our days for calm and joy—without making it another chore on the list.

At the end of that Thursday, I could honestly say: It’s been a busy day, and I did a lot.
Not in the frantic, check-every-box kind of way—but in the “I showed up for myself” kind of way.

You don’t have to fix everything today.

You don’t have to catch up with anyone.
But you can choose something that brings you back to yourself.
You can build a day that feels meaningful, even if it’s made of small, imperfect actions.

So—what’s one small thing you could do right now to shift the energy?

I’m cheering you on.

With you in this,
Marianne

What is available:

If you are caught in a spiraling cycle of self-doubt, burnout and frustration - and navigating change just feels too damn hard - let me help you find clarity, confidence and renewed belief in what's possible for your magical life. Contact at : marianne@mariannepreton.com

There are two options:

90 minutes private session on - a coaching session to help you identify your top priorities and create clarity and a roadmap for success.
3 Month 1:1 Coaching opportunities available.

Woman resting her head atop of her dogs head — April 11th - Murphy is 14 years old!

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