Understanding stress, habits, and the unconscious mind.

Why habits feel harder during stressful periods

Most people think habits are built on discipline.
And when those habits slip, the assumption is usually the same: I’ve lost motivation or I need more willpower.

But that’s not usually what’s happening.

When stress increases, the mind changes its priorities — and understanding this can remove a huge amount of self-criticism.

And this is something many people notice when struggling with anxiety patterns.
You can find more info on that here .

Because when habits feel harder during stressful periods,

 it isn’t failure.

It’s protection.

The unconscious mind prioritises safety, not improvement

Your unconscious mind’s primary role is to keep you safe.

Not productive.

Not healthy.

Not disciplined.

Safe.

Under normal circumstances, this system runs quietly in the background, allowing you to build routines, make decisions, and move forward.

But when stress increases — whether from work, relationships, health concerns, uncertainty, or emotional pressure — the unconscious mind shifts into stabilisation mode.

Instead of asking:

“Is this good for me?”

It asks:

“Is this familiar?”

And familiarity often wins.

Why old habits return when you feel stressed

Many people notice the same pattern:

• Healthy routines slip
• Sleep becomes inconsistent
• Comfort eating increases
• Motivation drops
• Avoidance creeps in
• Overthinking increases

This isn’t coincidence.

When the nervous system feels unsettled, the unconscious mind looks for predictable experiences. 

Familiar habits, even unhelpful ones — can feel steadying in uncertain moments.

This is why people often say:
“I know what I should be doing — I just can’t seem to do it.”

The logical mind knows the answer.

The emotional mind is trying to feel safe.

And the emotional mind always wins.

Stress reduces mental flexibility

When the system feels calm and safe, the mind is naturally flexible.

You can make decisions, try new things, and stick to routines more easily.

But stress narrows that flexibility.

The mind moves into protection mode — focusing on certainty and predictability rather than growth or change.

It’s not regression.

It’s stabilisation.

And once you understand that, habits stop feeling like a personal failure.

Why willpower is unreliable during stressful periods

Willpower is a conscious process — and the conscious mind runs only a small percentage of behaviour.

When stress levels rise, the unconscious mind takes the lead more strongly.

That’s why relying on willpower alone rarely works during difficult periods.

You’re trying to use logic to override a safety response, and safety responses are always stronger.

This is also why people often feel frustrated with themselves during stressful times, even though their mind is simply trying to protect them.

Habits don’t disappear — they pause

One of the most reassuring things to understand is this:

Healthy habits don’t vanish during stressful periods.

They pause.

Once the nervous system settles and the unconscious mind feels safer again, flexibility returns.

That’s when routines begin to feel easier, motivation comes back, and change becomes possible again.

Not because you forced it — but because the system no longer needs to stabilise.

Hypnotherapy and habit change

At Phoenix Hypnotherapy in Cheltenham, many clients describe this exact experience — feeling motivated and consistent when calm, then struggling with habits when stress increases.

Hypnotherapy works differently because it communicates with the unconscious patterns driving behaviour.

Read more here.

Hypnotherapy works by helping the unconscious mind feel safer, calmer, and more settled, allowing behaviour to shift naturally rather than through effort alone.

When the system feels safe, change becomes easier to maintain.

You can learn more about working with Lesley at Phoenix Hypnotherapy in Cheltenham here.
 

Frequently asked questions

Why do habits break during stressful times?

When stress increases, the unconscious mind prioritises safety and familiarity over improvement. This can make routines feel harder to maintain until the system feels calmer again.

Is it normal to lose motivation when stressed?

Yes. Motivation often drops when the nervous system feels under pressure because the mind is focused on stability rather than growth.

Can hypnotherapy help with habits and stress?

Hypnotherapy helps people feel calmer and more in control by working with unconscious patterns that drive behaviour, making change feel safer and more natural.

The bottom line

When habits feel harder during stressful periods, it doesn’t mean you’ve failed.

It usually means your unconscious mind is prioritising safety.

As calm returns, flexibility returns — and change becomes easier again.

Understanding this removes self-criticism and replaces it with compassion and clarity.