03/08/2025
Feeling overwhelmed by life’s demands is common. Sometimes, it seems like the slightest bump can send us spiraling. But here’s the thing: you’re not alone in this. And guess what? You’re not doing anything wrong. It’s possible that your nervous system is feeling the strain.
When we’re constantly juggling work, family, and life’s ups and downs, it can be tough to process everything that comes our way. Just like the junk drawer in our kitchen, we sometimes store emotional baggage in a metaphorical junk drawer. But here’s the catch: we don’t always come back to empty it out. And eventually, it starts to spill over. Each little droplet can manifest as irritability, frustration, or anger.
Welcome to the sympathetic nervous system, or fight-or-flight mode. This mode is great for keeping us safe, but our bodies aren’t meant to stay there forever. With all the modern-day stressors we face, it’s hard to relax and reach a calm state (our parasympathetic nervous system, where we feel safe, have clear thinking, and can comfortably socialize). So, how do we get there? With baby steps. And here’s one to get you started:
Breathe.
Before you roll your eyes at me for suggesting something so simple, give it a try. The next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, I challenge you to practice Box Breathing. It’s a super simple technique used by everyone from Navy SEALs to yoga instructors. Here’s how it works:
1. Inhale for a count of 4
2. Hold your breath for a count of 4
3. Exhale for a count of 4
4. Hold your breath for a count of 4
5. Repeat
Imagine you’re drawing a box with your breath, each side of the square taking 4 counts. Simple, right? It’s super discreet, and it’ll be like you hit the reset button on your nervous system!
