When life gets stressful, it’s tempting to reach for quick fixes. In the moment, they bring comfort. But as Chapter 16 of Happy Life at a Healthy Weight points out, these habits don’t actually relieve stress. Instead, they create a cycle that leaves you more disconnected from your body.
The good news? You can train yourself to respond differently. By practicing a “relaxation response,” you shift from reacting on autopilot to reconnecting with your body in healthier ways.
Stress and Disconnection
Chronic stress doesn’t just weigh on your mind—it affects your choices. When your body feels overwhelmed, you’re more likely to eat quickly, snack while distracted, or overeat to soothe yourself. These habits give you a short burst of relief, but they don’t solve the root of the stress.
As the chapter explains, we’ve conditioned ourselves to self-soothe in ways that backfire. What we think will help only leaves us feeling more drained, stressed, and stuck.
What Is a Relaxation Response?
A relaxation response is simply your body’s way of resetting when stress takes over. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Just a few minutes of breathing deeply, moving your body, or calming your mind can switch your system out of “fight or flight” and into balance.
Practicing regularly builds resilience. Instead of reacting with habits that disconnect you from your body, you’ll have tools that bring you back to center.
Simple Ways to Practice
Chapter 16 shares easy strategies you can use anytime to create your own relaxation response:
- Deep breathing: Slow, steady breaths can calm your mind in minutes.
- Gentle movement: Activities like walking, yoga, or tai chi ease stress and tension.
- Quiet time: Try meditation, journaling, or simply sitting quietly.
- Creative outlets: Fun hobbies like painting, collaging, or woodworking bring joy and relaxation.
These practices don’t take hours. A few minutes a day can interrupt the stress cycle and help you feel more connected to yourself.
Reconnecting With Your Body
When you relax, you’re reconnecting with your body’s signals. Instead of ignoring stress or numbing it with habits that don’t serve you, you’re showing your body respect.
So the next time you feel pressure to push through, try pausing instead. Relaxation isn’t indulgence—it’s how you reconnect, recharge, and return to yourself.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Want to know what hidden habits are fueling your stress? Take our free Top Inner Roadblocks to Weight Loss Success Quiz and see what might be standing in your way.
Need more ideas to recharge? Revisit Why Rest Isn’t Lazy for simple ways to give your body the reset it needs.
Source:
Loughrey K. Happy Life at a Healthy Weight: Creating a Shame Free, Healthy Relationship with Food and Life.Authentic Wellness Publishing Company, LLC; 2024.
Zhana Ivanova
University of Maryland – Nutrition and Food Sciences
Kay Loughrey, MPH, RDN, LDN Transformational Speaker, Breakthrough Coach, Nutritionist-Dietitian
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Kay Loughrey, MPH, RDN, LDN is a licensed Nutritionist-Dietitian and a weight loss coach with 30+ years of experience in helping people lose weight and develop healthier relationships with food. She coaches her clients nationwide providing weight loss planning, video check-ins, and more. Schedule your free consultation.