Guide · body · 3 min read
Releasing tension you did not notice you were holding — what to expect, when you have already had a long week
By mid-afternoon most people are holding their shoulders, jaw and hands without knowing. Here is a two-minute check.
Start here
Most of the usual advice misses the point. What follows is the version that survives contact with a real week.
Long weeks are cumulative. This is a small subtraction.
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
Drop your shoulders by a centimetre. Not a shrug in reverse — just let gravity do the work.
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.
What to do when it does not work
Change position every thirty minutes rather than trying to find the perfect posture. There is no correct way to sit for eight hours.
Uncurl your hands. If you have been typing, your fingers are probably still curved around an invisible keyboard.
Stand up and walk to another room once an hour. Not for exercise — just so your body remembers it has legs.
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.
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