Guide · body · 3 min read
Releasing tension you did not notice you were holding — the unglamorous version, if you have five quiet minutes
By mid-afternoon most people are holding their shoulders, jaw and hands without knowing. Here is a two-minute check.
Start here
A short explanation first, because knowing why makes the doing easier.
Five quiet minutes is enough. Ten is generous.
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.
Change position every thirty minutes rather than trying to find the perfect posture. There is no correct way to sit for eight hours.
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
Drop your shoulders by a centimetre. Not a shrug in reverse — just let gravity do the work.
Start with the jaw. Let your back teeth part slightly. Most people hold their jaw closed all day and only notice at night.
Uncurl your hands. If you have been typing, your fingers are probably still curved around an invisible keyboard.
Questions people ask
Why does my jaw hurt in the morning?
Often clenching or grinding during sleep. That is worth mentioning to a dentist, who will recognise it immediately.
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.