Feeling stressed? Check out these 7 science-backed tips to relax right now.
This post was originally shared in my semi-frequent Learn Something New(sletter). To never miss info like this, join the party! 🥳
I first heard sisters Emily Nagoski, Ph.D., the bestselling author of Come as You Are, and Amelia Nagoski, DMA on Brené Brown’s Unlocking Us podcast and ordered their book, Burnout, before the episode ended. The book covers the complexity of the stressors that apply to our daily lives, why we feel exhausted, and what we can do about it. Disclaimer: the book is targeted towards the burdens of female-identifying individuals, but I have hope that we all would benefit from the tactics they lay out.
Biggest whoa moment: We’re carrying an absurd amount of extra stress because our bodies are unable to complete the “stress cycle.” Our bodies were built to handle the stress of survival. For example, let’s use a lion attack. Because we’ve all experienced that. First, you perceive the threat - a lion! Second, you do something with your body - run very fast! Third, you feel the safety of making it back to your village and are able to relax. In the real world, it’s hard to move through these steps when you finish a big presentation at work or navigate a particularly feisty email. Often our body doesn’t understand that it’s safe. And that’s where our practice comes in!
Put it into practice now: Don’t worry, I won’t tell you to do some generic self-care. Instead, here are science-backed tips that you can try. The authors recommend committing to at least one in a 24 hour period to release chronic stress that’s built up in your body.
Move: it can be going for a run, some yoga, a few jumping jacks, or one of my favorites - the 1-minute dance party.
Breathe: give yourself some deep, slow breaths. They recommend breathe in for 5, hold 5, out 10, hold 5. Repeat a few rounds.
Laugh: find moments for those deep, silly belly laughs that come when you have zero worries about how you look while you gasp for air.
Cry: it’s not all fun and games here. Let yourself have a big old cry and get in it. Feel how the cry impacts your body, let it flow through you.
Touch: get close to those that you care about. Try a 6-second kiss or a 20-second hug. It’s just long enough to have to give in while feeling mildly too long.
Connect: chat with a friend, compliment the store clerk, wave at a very cute dog. Maybe pet the dog, too. Whatever it is, have a moment of positive interaction with the world.
Create: try something fun. It could be painting, knitting, writing, even daydreaming. Whatever it is, allow your mind to explore!
Go deeper:
Read the book yourself: Burnout: The secret to solving the stress cycle
Listen to the podcast that hooked me: Unlocking Us
Check out their Ted Talk: The cure for burnout
Try breathwork: Breathwrk, Insight Timer
Are you hunting for the safe space to do this kind of deep work? Let’s get together and do some belly laughs, maybe even some fun crying.