Hot, Bothered, and Human: What Irritability Is Teaching Me

It’s 106 degrees here in Las Cruces today.
And honestly? I woke up matching the temperature—hot and bothered.

Not in a cute, sassy way either.
I’m talking about the kind of irritability that shows up before your feet even hit the floor. No real cause. No warning. Just… there. Thick in your body. Buzzing in your skin.

Maybe it’s the heat.
Maybe it’s hormones.
Maybe it was the half hour I spent with someone who talked nonstop without really saying anything. (My fellow deep thinkers, introverts, and HSPs—you know how that kind of noise can fry your nervous system.)

Maybe I pushed too hard the past few days.

There was an afternoon Hot Pilates class that felt so good in the moment, but it was intense. I love practicing in the heat, but even a good thing can become too much. I followed that with a morning bike ride, but didn’t get out early enough to beat the heat. I’d done 20 miles last week, so it felt like I should be able to do it again.

Instead of coming home, hydrating, and refueling, Jim and I ran errands. A trip to our local home improvement store, then our favorite organic grocery store. By the time we got home, Jim still had energy and went right to work outside. He needed my help, but I was at the end of my rope.

I finally asked, “Can we do this later? I need a shower and I need food.”

He saw the “hanger” in my eyes and put his tools down. “Of course,” he said.

I headed to the shower. He started prepping lunch.
And his project? It got done a bit later that day.

Whatever the reason for my irritability, I was crispy.

In the past, I might’ve tried to power through.
Smile anyway. Write something wise. Push my mood aside and just be “productive.”

But lately, I’ve been practicing something different:
Noticing instead of fixing.

I asked myself:

“What if this mood is here for me, not against me?”

Irritability—when I sit with it—has things to say.
It reminds me:

• That I need more quiet than I think
• That overstimulation is real and cumulative
• That my body’s rhythm isn’t wrong—it’s just asking me to listen

So today, I’m rechecking the spokes on my wellness wheel.

What do I need?

As I move through the usual spokes—nutrition, movement, friendship, faith, rest—I realize what I may need most today is a nap. Thankfully, I already have an acupuncture appointment this afternoon, which should help restore balance. And I’ve decided to cross Hot Pilates off today’s schedule.

Maybe I’ll head to the mall instead for an air-conditioned walk.
Maybe I’ll just rest.
And I’ll take a look at the rest of the week to make sure I’m building in time for recovery.

This week matters—it’s the final full week of my six-week break. I want to treat it with care, not cram it with pressure.

And maybe… that’s another reason I feel off.

Next week, I return to work. I think I’m ready.
I’ve even felt little flickers of excitement about going back.

But a lot can happen in six weeks.
There are new team members. New projects.
Roles may have shifted. Expectations might be different.

Can I hold my boundaries this time, so I don’t burn out again?
Will I be able to communicate clearly?
Do I have what it takes to lead a team, no matter its size?

Will I find meaning in the work I do?
And if not, will I be able to shape my role in a way that still serves the organization and keeps me aligned?

And the deeper question—
Will I ever reach a point in my career and income where Jim can truly retire? Where he can finally do only the work that lights up his soul?

Sometimes “burning true” (a phrase I’ve been sitting with lately) doesn’t mean showing up in full glow.
Sometimes it looks like resting in the embers.
Letting the fire simmer.
Refusing to fake it.

So today, I didn’t try to shift it.
I moved slowly. I hydrated. I gave myself space.
And I showed up to the page—not to perform, but to process.

Because this, too, is presence.
This, too, is part of the human ride.

(Yes, you may be seeing some cycling lingo find its way into my blogs. After 10 years of incubation, I’ve picked up Cycling Shorts again and have started the work of sorting my notes, organizing, and writing. It’s a labor of love, and I can’t wait to share it.)

What is your body or mood trying to tell you today, if you paused long enough to listen?

Blog From the Archives – Related

These posts explore related themes—presence, emotional regulation, and honoring your inner rhythms:

• How to Be More Present in the Moment: Mary and Martha Life Lessons
  A gentle reminder that showing up for others often means slowing down—and savoring what matters most. loriannking.com+8loriannking.com+8loriannking.com+8
• How Knowing the Spokes on Your Wellness Wheel Can Help You Find Balance
  Reconnecting with the six spokes—nutrition, movement, rest, connection, purpose, and reflection—can help you spot what’s missing when life feels off-kilter.

©2025 Lori Ann King