12/16/2025
Stress is not the enemy. Unmanaged stress is.
Performance lives in four stages: baseline, pre-performance, during performance, and recovery. Each stage asks for a different relationship with stress. Sometimes we lower it. Sometimes we ride it. Sometimes we intentionally practice shifting it.
HRV is not a single score to chase. Like color, different measures show different qualities. The goal is not a higher score, but rather better self-regulation.
Metrics are training wheels. Awareness and adaptability are the destination.
Read the full post for tools and perspective: https://reachingahead.com/self-regulation-hrv-drill/