Stress is one of those words we often use casually, even proudly. We say, “I’m just stressed,” as if it’s a harmless side effect of a busy life. But it’s really an apology for behavior that is not based on etiquette. As if we can’t control ourselves, and that’s okay.
Stress is not okay. Stress isn’t harmless. It’s a powerful force that changes how we think, how we act, and how we treat others, and rarely for the better.
Stress has become a constant undercurrent in our lives, especially during the holidays.
This past season was the busiest I’ve ever experienced, not because of one major event, but because I said yes to too many wonderful yet draining commitments. At the same time, I heard my friends, clients, and colleagues were struggling with stress related to travel, workplace challenges, personal transitions, and ongoing economic uncertainty—both in the U.S. and globally. It’s normal, yet we have to handle it.
As I enter my third year of rebuilding Advanced Etiquette full‑time, one theme continues to surface in conversations with clients and in my own life: ongoing stress. It often results from not knowing how to handle everyday situations effectively. And that’s where etiquette comes in.
Advanced Etiquette has always been dedicated to bringing civility back into the workplace and daily life through practical etiquette training. Now I want to include a clear, organized strategy for delivering those skills in a way that is consistent, engaging, and truly transformative… month after month, for readers of any age.
It’s because, when handled poorly, stress becomes a quiet shape‑shifter. It turns patience into irritability, clarity into confusion, and confidence into self‑doubt. Left unchecked, stress doesn’t just visit our lives; it moves in, rearranges our core being, and slowly takes over.
Stress is not unbeatable. It must be confronted deliberately and consistently, or it will continue to grow roots in our daily lives.
Managing stress goes hand in hand with treating others politely and respectfully in our interactions. Etiquette provides guidelines that support civility, and manners are the daily behaviors that bring those guidelines to life. When these elements are missing or unclear, stress fills the gap.
This realization has led me to create GRAB + GRABLE, a simple, intentional system for reducing stress by changing behavior.
Announcing GRAB+GRABLE!
How GRAB Motivates You
GRAB stands for Get Real About Behaviors.
GRAB is the moment of honesty. It’s the decision to stop blaming stress, circumstances, or other people. Instead, it takes a clear look at how our own behaviors may be contributing to tension in our lives and workplaces.
GRAB asks one essential question: How am I showing up, and what can I do differently?
Without this awareness, no amount of tools or techniques we use will create lasting change.
How GRABLE Creates Action
- GRABLE stands for Get Real with Actionable Bottom‑Line Etiquette.
- GRABLE is where awareness turns into action. It provides clear, practical etiquette skills: what to say, what to do, when to act, and how to follow through, so everyday situations are handled with confidence, clarity, and civility.
- GRABLE removes guesswork. When expectations are clear, stress loses its power.
- How GRAB + GRABLE Work Together
How GRAB + GRABLE Work Together
GRAB and GRABLE are two parts of the same system.
- GRAB is the decision. GRABLE is the discipline.
- GRAB creates awareness. GRABLE builds skill.
- Skills change behavior, and changed behavior reduces stress.
- You cannot practice GRABLE without first embracing GRAB….
Join me to GRAB + GRABLE through 2026!
I know this sounds funny, but bear with me.
GRAB the mindset to master GRABLE as the method.
Together, they will give you a lifelong path to reducing stress by intentionally, consistently, and realistically learning and practicing better behavior.
After years of teaching etiquette, one truth has become clear to me:
People don’t seek etiquette for formality’s sake. They seek it because they want less stress, better relationships, and more confidence in how they navigate life.
GRAB + GRABLE is that path.
Please join me as I continue to unveil twelve components of this system.
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So, January's Tip is:
As we all evaluate our lives professionally and personally in this New Year, consider these items about stress:
What Stress Really Is
Stress is the body’s natural response to perceived pressure or threat. Stress comes in all sizes — from small to large, in all shapes, and in all colors.
Stress is designed to be a warning sign to protect us. When faced with a challenge, stress releases hormones that sharpen focus and increase energy. In small doses, this can be helpful.
The problem begins when chronic stress is not appropriately managed.
Modern life rarely gives us a clear “off switch.” Deadlines, notifications, financial worries, relationship tension, and constant comparison keep our nervous systems on high alert.
Over time, stress stops being a temporary response and becomes a permanent state. When that happens, it alters our behavior in ways that are less admirable and far less well‑received. We become short-tempered, exercise poor judgment, create emotional withdrawal, make impulsive decisions, and burn out.
Eliminating stress may be unrealistic, but we can’t allow it to dominate our lives. We must challenge stress actively every day to manage and reduce it. Doing so isn’t a luxury; it’s essential to living a healthier, happier, more productive, and more successful life.
Stress doesn’t disappear with one deep breath or one vacation. It requires ongoing attention and effort. Think of stress management as daily maintenance, like brushing your teeth and exercising. Small, consistent actions keep it from taking hold.
Actively work at reducing stress. It will not only make us feel better; it also makes us better. We are more patient. More present. More aligned with who we genuinely want to be.
Stress may be a part of life, but it should never be the ruler of it. When we stop it early, pull it out at the root, and refuse to let it grow unchecked, we create space for peace, harmony, and a life that feels not just busy but genuinely meaningful.
Let’s make the choice together to deal with stress in 2026. Whether to have stress can be a conscious, intentional choice: to have it or not.
Conclusion:
Stay with me through 2026 as I dedicate the year to a Year of No More Stress, with real action steps to achieve a better life for us all through GRAB + GRABLE!