Give yourself 72 hours before making irreversible decisions
A structured protocol for regaining footing after acute destabilization.
When destabilization spikes — pause.
Not forever. Just long enough to restore baseline clarity.
Major decisions made during emotional escalation often create long-term consequences.
This reset creates space between reaction and action.
Step 1 — Step Away
Walk back from major decisions.
Postpone high-stakes conversations.
Delay commitments if possible.
If something truly matters, it will still matter in 72 hours.
Pause prevents panic from steering your future.
Step 2 — Ground Yourself
Regulate the body first.
Sleep.
Hydrate.
Nourish.
Move gently.
Physical stability restores cognitive stability.
Step 3 — Restore Routine
Return to a small, familiar daily structure.
Keep mornings simple.
Limit exposure to destabilizing inputs.
Complete one predictable task.
Routine rebuilds psychological safety.
Step 4 — Seek Perspective
Consult someone steady — not reactive.
Journal without self-censorship.
Write facts separately from fears.
Zoom out before zooming in.
Perspective reduces distortion.
Why 72 Hours?
Three days is often enough to:
• Lower emotional intensity
• Restore physiological balance
• Interrupt scarcity spirals
• Re-engage executive function
It is not avoidance.
It is stabilization.
When to Use This Tool
• After financial shock
• During relational conflict
• When facing career decisions
• When belief systems are challenged
• During acute stress spikes
Stability precedes clarity.
Clarity precedes wise action.
Life.Understood.
Gerald Alba Daquila
©2026 geralddaquila.com
Life.Understood. 