“To defrost” (verb) "become free of accumulated ice, usually by being turned off for a period"
This is exactly how I’ve felt over the past two weeks. I’ve been defrosting from the Corporate world, I’m free and have been switched off! But instead of ice in my body it’s cortisol!
I honestly hadn’t realised how much stress and tension I’d been carrying around in my body until I was given permission (by myself- nobody else can give this permission) to switch off and release it.
Within 24 hours of leaving my job I came down with a stinking cold! So horrible, that I actually couldn’t leave the sofa for about 4 days and I slept most of the day as my body just completely gave up.
Heading to my monthly massage appointment worked wonders in stimulating my parasympathetic nervous system and I genuinely felt my body tingling as it was relaxing and releasing.
Sleep has been restless as I’ve been dreaming of meetings and I have the constant sensation that I need to be doing ‘something’ – replying to emails, writing a presentation, joining a teams call. This feeling is probably why I’m sat here now writing this blog!! :D
I’ve been programmed for so long to consider productivity as sitting at my computer and pushing projects forward on behalf of another business that it’s really difficult for me to turn that off and realise that productivity in my new world looks different now.
That actually I taught a class this morning before 9am and held space for a group of people to feel happy & healthy before their work day has even begun!
This new normal is going to take a while for me to get used to and as I continue to defrost I’m sure other feelings and emotions are going to creep up on me too. But I’m free!! Free to take it one day at a time and enjoy the journey as I get to know Tash without cortisol streaming through my body all the time!
I know it’s not easy to switch off fully from the world and it is inevitable that cortisol will continue to thrive as society pushes us to lead certain lifestyles, but there are tools within our power to take that can help us thrive. Yoga, breathwork, movement, creative arts, journalling, massage, chanting…this list goes on. I encourage you to try one or many for yourselves, you never know what you might fall in love with and what can help you to thrive too.
Love, Tash xx