Buzz
Anyone else feeling a bit stressed out lately? There are times when the anxiety, frustration, or disappointment seems overwhelming, and all I can do is sit with it and allow myself to experience it.
Then, I pop in my earbuds, stand up, and start moving to the music.
This idea came to me from Emily and Amelia Nagoski's book Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle. It explains that in order to truly unwind and rest, our bodies need to complete the “stress response cycle,” which helps us avoid burnout.
As the Nagoski sisters wisely put it:
[...] perhaps the most crucial idea in their book: Managing your
stress
is a distinct process from managing the sources of your stress. To effectively handle your
stress
, you must
complete the cycle
.
How do you complete the cycle? I’m not here to dive into the technicalities (trust me, the book covers it in depth), but to keep it simple: Stressful experiences flood our system with hormones like epinephrine and cortisol—and unless we actively work to clear these chemicals from our bodies, they’ll linger, speeding up our heart rate, clouding our thoughts, and disrupting our digestion and sleep.
One of the most effective ways to close the stress response cycle is through vigorous physical activity. Again, to quote the Nagoskis:
Remember, your body doesn't understand concepts like “filing your taxes” or “solving a relationship issue with reason.” But it does know what jumping up and down means. Speak its language — and its language is
body language
.
[...]
Physical activity signals to your brain that your body has survived the threat and is now safe.
It's the most effective way to complete the stress response cycle
.
There are many ways to get physical activity, though some may not be feasible if you’re practicing good social distancing or balancing remote work and family care. For example, I can’t go for a 30-minute run with a deadline looming, but I can always spare five minutes for a quick dance break.
This is one of the stress-busting techniques recommended by the Nagoskis. They suggest dancing to Beyoncé, but honestly, you can pick any music that gets you moving. I personally enjoy video game remixes. Whether you dance solo, with your kids, or with your roommates, it’s a great way to connect with others. And don’t worry about being a dancer — just get your body moving until your heart starts to race.
The goal is to exhaust yourself enough that your breathing naturally slows and becomes deeper and more relaxed. That’s when you’ll know the stress response cycle is—at least for now—complete.
And then, perhaps later on, you can do it all over again.
