You can do better (than me). Episode 6: Stress

Stress is something we all experience, but for me, it’s been a constant companion, especially in the last few years. It’s not that I didn’t know stress was there—I just ignored it until it became too big to manage. Looking back, I realize how much I let stress build up, affecting my health, my relationships, and my ability to lead a balanced life.

My experience with stress reached its peak when I was running Youlosophy. The irony of starting a company that aimed to help people live better, more fulfilling lives, while I was living through one of the most stressful periods of my own life, is not lost on me. We were developing personalized journaling products meant to guide people through self-improvement journeys, but behind the scenes, I was struggling with my own well-being.

The pressure to succeed mounted quickly. I convinced my husband, Agustin, to leave his job and join the project, so our entire household income was riding on this one startup. It wasn’t doing well—like many startups, we were losing money—and the more we depended on it, the worse the stress became. It reached a point where Agustin crashed his car due to sheer exhaustion and stress. That was my wake-up call, but it came too late.

We eventually had to shut the company down. In doing so, I learned a lot about the difference between good stress—the kind that pushes you to grow—and chronic stress, the kind that eats away at you until there’s nothing left. I also realized how much of this stress was self-imposed. My high expectations, my inability to delegate, and my relentless drive to push forward without taking breaks all contributed to the overwhelming pressure.

I’ve since tried to take a different approach. Stress, in itself, isn’t the enemy. In fact, it can be useful—it’s the body’s natural response to danger, after all. But chronic stress, the kind that accumulates over time, is what damages us. It’s what leads to burnout, strained relationships, and poor decision-making. It’s a lesson I’ve learned the hard way.