In many modern jobs, including being a writer, people often find themselves stuck behind a screen for hours on end. In such daunting circumstances, anxiety and burnout often seem inevitable. Especially when you're also managing the daily challenges of your personal life while dealing with an unhappy body.
There are plenty of tips for rewiring your mind to better handle stress and avoid losing your sanity. But the best advice I’ve ever received is simple: be present, stay in your body, and keep moving.
Move until the stuckness has no choice but to release.
How Moving Your Body Can Transform Your Life
Life can feel overwhelmingly intense, especially when you’re experiencing stuckness in every aspect of it. Whether it's due to traumatic experiences, health issues, impatience for a new chapter to begin, or confusion about your chosen path, being stuck in what seems like limbo can be incredibly draining.
Changing your life to feel good again isn’t a one-time fix.
It’s the small, consistent choices that add up to make a big difference. Starting by being present in your physical body is a great first step. I don’t think we were designed to sit as much as we do in today’s world. Our bodies need to be active for more than just the hour a day we try to make time for exercise.
The benefits of moving your body whether walking, dancing, stretching, or simply shaking it out, extend far beyond physical health.
Regular movement can really turn your life around. It keeps your heart and muscles in check, helps you manage weight, and keeps your bones strong. Mentally, it’s a game-changer too—cutting down stress, lifting your mood, and helping you sleep better. It even boosts brain power and might lower the risk of cognitive decline. Plus, it’s great for building confidence, and giving you more energy to be productive.
We are naturally designed to think, feel, and do, but when we spend most of our working days sitting in the same position, a lot of energy builds up. This stored energy creates discomfort and irritates both your muscles and brain. It can manifest as anxiety, as your mind seeks relief, and as stiffness, as your muscles crave movement.
Moving your body might not fix everything you wish to change, but it’s a fantastic start to releasing stuckness in your life. It can make you feel and look better, reconnecting you with what truly matters: being alive, breathing deeply, and using your body to its fullest potential.
The truth is, you do have time to move your body, even on your busiest days. Here are some tips to stay active daily if you can't fit in a full workout:
Get up from your chair every hour and take a few minutes to be present and move your body. Walk around the room, do some lunges, stretch, or vigorously shake it out—whatever you choose, be mindful and enjoy the release.
Active commuting to work is a great option, but if you work from home, consider dedicating 10-20 minutes each day before starting work to stretch or simply stand and move around a bit.
Standing desks are a great solution if you want to avoid sitting all day. At first, it might feel unusual, but you'll quickly get used to standing while working.
Make sure to take breaks during your workday, and consider using your lunch break for walking around outside if possible.
Keep resistance bands, dumbbells, or a yoga mat within easy reach for quick workouts at home or in the office. Sometimes we all just need a child’s pose to release stuckness in your back, hips and thighs.
Turn family outings or time with loved ones into active events by going hiking, biking, or playing sports together.
While watching your favorite show on TV, take the opportunity to stretch or stand at intervals.
Instead of ordering takeaways, cook your own meals and stay active in the kitchen. Try to enjoy household chores like cleaning or gardening as a way to move around and release.
Being present in our bodies should be fun and enjoyable, not just a source of discomfort from lack of movement or strain from over-exercise. Both can lead to a stuck feeling, trapping you in a reality you don’t want to be in.
The simplest step towards a happier, more fulfilling life is to make time each day to feel good in your own skin. Take a few minutes for deep breaths, stretching, or just shaking off the day before you go to sleep. This is especially important on those days when moving feels almost impossible—these are the days when you need it most. Dormant energy can get stuck physically or mentally and lead to dis-ease if not released.
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