My lovely readers 
I’ve been thinking a lot about how easily stress sneaks into our lives. It’s everywhere, in the rush between appointments, the ping of a message, the quiet pressure to keep up. Sometimes I catch myself with a racing heart, racing mind and my body’s internal battery telling me to recharge. And I know I’m not alone.
Our bodies were built for a slower world – one with pauses, seasons, and space to recover. But the pace of modern life doesn’t match that rhythm. So when we feel overwhelmed or “not ourselves,” it’s not weakness. It’s biology trying to keep up.
One thing I often share with my clients, friends, family, and remind myself of, is this:
Stress itself isn’t the enemy. Getting stuck in stress is.
Emily Nagoski and her sister Amelia Nagoski describe stress as a cycle, something the body is meant to move through. When that cycle doesn’t complete, the stress stays inside us. We feel tense, irritable, or numb, not because we’re doing anything wrong, but because our nervous system hasn’t had the chance to finish what it started.
Here’s a fascinating fact from science:
When we experience stress, our main stress hormone, cortisol, peaks about 20–30 minutes after the stressful moment and can take between 60 and 120 minutes to fully settle again. So even when the moment has passed, our bodies are still catching up. They just need gentle signals that we’re safe.
Over time, I’ve found a few simple ways to help the body complete that cycle – ways that are kind, realistic, and easy to weave into daily life.
Move a little
Movement helps the body let go – and it doesn’t have to be a full workout. Tiny “movement snacks” throughout the day work beautifully. Stretch, walk to the window, roll your shoulders, shake out your arms, dance to one song. Small movement counts. Small movement helps.
5‑5‑5 breathing
- Inhale for 5.
- Hold for 5.
- Exhale for 5.
- Repeat five times.
It’s simple, grounding, and tells your body, “You’re safe now.”
Connection
A hug. A laugh. A moment of being seen. Humans regulate through other humans – we were never meant to do life alone.
Crying
Tears aren’t weakness; they’re release. When crying comes, your body is completing the stress cycle for you.
Creativity
Pottery, cooking, writing, singing – anything that lets your inner world come out.
Martha Beck reminds us that creativity doesn’t just relax us; it interrupts overthinking, one of the biggest drivers of stress. When we create, we shift from rumination to presence. The body softens. The mind quiets. The cycle completes.
Stress is like a wave. You don’t need to stop the wave, you just need to let it reach the shore.
And please remember:
It’s not your fault. You’re not to blame.
Our bodies are ancient, and the world is fast. But we’re adaptable. And every small act of care – every breath, every stretch, every creative moment – helps us come home to ourselves.
What’s one daily ritual that helps you complete your stress cycle?
With wild love,
Maxi
