Guide · body · 3 min read
Releasing tension you did not notice you were holding — an honest guide, when you are on your own
By mid-afternoon most people are holding their shoulders, jaw and hands without knowing. Here is a two-minute check.
Start here
Six things, in the order that makes the most difference. The first two do most of the work.
Being on your own is not required, but it does make this simpler.
If you only do one thing from this page, do the first point below. It is first because it removes the most friction for the least effort.
What helps
Check whether your tongue is pressed against the roof of your mouth. It usually is.
Start with the jaw. Let your back teeth part slightly. Most people hold their jaw closed all day and only notice at night.
Stand up and walk to another room once an hour. Not for exercise — just so your body remembers it has legs.
What to do when it does not work
Uncurl your hands. If you have been typing, your fingers are probably still curved around an invisible keyboard.
Change position every thirty minutes rather than trying to find the perfect posture. There is no correct way to sit for eight hours.
Drop your shoulders by a centimetre. Not a shrug in reverse — just let gravity do the work.
Questions people ask
Do I need a standing desk?
Only if you will actually change position. A standing desk you stand at for four hours is no better than a chair you never leave.
Written for people who want the practical version. No accounts, no tracking, no newsletter wall.
If this is not the angle you need, try Preparing for a conversation you are dreading — what to expect, when the weather has kept you inside, Using your body to come down after something stressful — what to expect, when nothing else has worked today or Why anxiety shows up in your body first — a short, honest guide, when you need something unremarkable.