5 Ways to Complete the Stress Cycle

We all feel stressed from time to time.

It’s part of our daily routine. It comes and goes without us noticing its presence.

But because we are so used to it, and so used to feeling a little bit stressed at all times, we might not even notice that sometimes it stays with us for longer. Often we don’t even realise that it’s there, like we don’t notice a mild cold.

This is because every stress has its beginning. And if we think logically - it should then have an end. But how often to we put a big fat full stop after a stressful event?

The authors of the book Burnout, Emily & Amelia Nagoski, believe that every time stress reaction starts we need to actively close the cycle so that it doesn’t continue boiling inside of us.

If we don’t close the cycle it continues running within our system and might make us “explode” unexpectedly.

Remember those times when you had a very good day and then something insignificant happened and you just went berserk?

Later you’d look at yourself and you think: Why? What did just happen? Why did I react like this? This situation was not very serious. Why did I go absolutely nuts?

And it’s because one stress or several tiny stresses were still building up within you and used this tiny event as a trigger to let it all out.

So how do you close the cycle? Well, it’s very easy, really, if you remember to follow through with it.

You just need to make sure you do something with your body to tell it that you are done stressing, that you are ok, you are no longer in danger.

There are several ways to encourage your body to complete the cycle. I will cover 5 in this article.

Physical ways to complete the stress cycle

• Tense and release your muscles several times.

  
  

• Do a little dance.

• Shake your body, like a dog.

  
  

• Do something silly like a headstand, especially when no one is looking.

  
  

• Any physical activity will do (jogging, yoga, Pilates, stretching, walking, etc.)

This is to release all the attention that is gathering within your body when you’re stressing out. And to tell your body that you have survived whatever stress it was.

Mindful breathing and meditation to complete the stress cycle

• Meditation.

• Any type of mindful activity (e.g eating, drinking, etc.)

• Breathing exercises.

• Enjoy a long hot cup of tea.

You could slowly breathe in and then exhale a long exhale and do it several times. This will send a signal to your brain that distress is over that you can go on with your life.

My go to book recommendations on mindfulness and meditation are here.

Social interaction to complete the stress cycle

• A gentle chitchat with your loved ones.

• Laughter.

  
  

• A hug.

  
  

• A kiss.

Anything that initiates a release of feel good hormones. This will assure your body and your brain that everything is good, the world is a safe place. That means the danger is over.

Emotional release to complete the stress cycle

• Have a good old cry.

  
  

• Hit the pillow.

  
  

• Scream.

  
  

• Comfort yourself, e.g give yourself a hug.

Having an intentional cry or a scream is a good way to finish the stress cycle. It’s like releasing a primordial yelp to announce to everyone that the danger is no longer here.

Use creativity to complete the stress cycle

• Creative activity, such as painting, drawing, knitting, poem writing, etc..

• Read something relaxing, including mantras or affirmations.

• Look at yourself in the mirror and say that you are out of danger.

• Tell yourself that you have performed this or that activity to complete the cycle.

Creative and art activities send very clear signals to our brain that danger is over. If you are happy to relax and do something else - the life goes on. Make sure you are consciously engaged with whatever activity you choose. Maybe even repeat out loud a few times: “Now I am safe.”

I, personally, am an introverted-extrovert with a hyperactive or nervous disposition. I also work with people. What that means is - I live in pretty much constant state of stress. I talk to people, it’s a stressor for some if not all of my senses. I deal with screaming toddlers, stress adds up and multiplies.

I have recently learnt that if after an intense meeting, phone call or any other engagement I don’t do something to complete the stress cycle - I reach a burnout very quickly, sometimes within days.

It manifests itself in physical symptoms, such as aches and pains in my body. And my emotional state is, well, unstable. I reach boiling point very easily, get upset, get angry, get super defensive.

But if I take time to sit with what has just happened, breathe in and out slowly and be still, or on the contrary, do something active, the chances are my internal jar of stress won’t fill up that quickly.

Final Thoughts

If stress has the beginning, it needs to have the end.

After experiencing any stress, minor work related, a scare, a toxic interaction, finished a project - don’t simply go on with your day.

Instead, pause for a few minutes and complete the cycle by consciously telling yourself that you are out of danger, you are ok. The stress is over.

And hopefully this will help you to lead a healthier life as no additional old and heavy stressors will be piggy riding on your back.