When and Why to Ignore Stranger Danger

This week, we’ve been sharing ways to complete the stress cycle for your body since it doesn’t understand when you’re released from stressors (e.g. the work week is done or you get to leave a toxic work environment.)

The third strategy, and the shortest one yet, is positive social interaction. This isn’t a deep, meaningful conversation, or time with your friends (although those are both great).

Positive social interaction is acknowledging and smiling at the stranger you walk by or telling someone at school drop-off that you like their shoes.

The science behind this strategy, according to doctors Emily and Amelia Nagoski, authors of Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, is “casual but friendly social interaction is the first external sign that the world is a safe place.” It’s a way to signal to your body that it doesn’t need to be on high alert.

To recap, this week we shared the following strategies around completing the stress cycle: physical activity (20–60 minutes/day), deep breathing (try it for 1 minute), and positive social interaction (5–10 seconds).

Which one(s) can you practice to take care of yourself and your body?