When was the last time you sat and did nothing? This can feel like a trick question for someone who is a busy-body. Moments of stillness bring discomfort rather than relief, and a sudden drop in stimulation can create irritability.

But how did this happen?  How did we get here?

Chances are, your body has been in go-mode for so long it doesn’t know what to do during ‘no-mode.’ Let’s learn the signs of stress-addiction and what to do to combat them.

Signs You’re Addicted to Stress

Most people who consider themselves ‘busy-bodies’ showcase higher levels of cortisol and adrenaline. According to scientists online from Harvard University, this creates a never-ending circle of chaos: The Hormone Loop.

This is a biochemical loop scientists have discovered those with addiction fall into because they associate productivity with safety and reward. Three common signs of people who are addicted to stress:

• Avoiding restful activities
• Constantly checking notifications
• People-pleasing / saying “yes” to everything

Unfortunately, stress addiction is a common occurrence today. Due to the societal encouragement of constant communication and connectivity, most people have a hard time “turning off.” Just in America alone, the average American checks their phone about 186 times per day, about every 5 minutes while awake. This adds up to averaging about 5+ hours of screentime per person.  

As a culture constantly stimulated with screens, emails, and asks, taking a serious time out is necessary for health and longevity.

Step One:

Often the most uncomfortable step is the first: Admittance. Recognizing symptoms in yourself of over-work, over-stress, and having an ‘over-it’ attitude are essential for getting on the path to self-care. Some questions to consider:

• When is the last time you took a break?
• Do you thrive on tight deadlines?
• Do you often procrastinate?
• Is downtime difficult to manage?
• Do you show impatience or irritability when others are speaking?
• Have you done any favorite hobbies lately?
• How long has it been since you checked your phone?
• Do you often feel like there isn’t enough time in a day to accomplish tasks?

Unfortunately, stress-addiction is often recognized by family and friends before we notice it ourselves. If you’re having trouble answering these questions alone, ask someone to look over them with you so you can continue to the next step of healing: doing something about it.

Step Two:

Now that you've identified the problem, it's time to get comfortable with the uncomfortable: doing less.

According to Mayo Clinic Health System, the antidote to stress addiction is slowing down and embracing the nothing. Meaning, it’s beneficial to be bored.

When your brain finally stops sprinting through tasks, it enters what researchers call the “default mode network,” a resting state where some of the brain's most important work happens. During this quiet time, your brain can slow down and begin to reflect, daydream, and even come up with new, creative ideas.

Most of us have accidentally trained ourselves to escape this feeling the moment it arrives. We reach for our phones, open another tab, or add another item to the to-do list, anything to avoid sitting with stillness.

Some ways we recommend embracing ‘boring’ moments during the day is to make them more intentional:

• Take a 10-minute walk outside — no podcast, no playlist
• Sit with your morning coffee before opening your phone
• Let yourself be bored in line at the grocery store instead of scrolling
• Cook a meal without background TV or music

Step Three

This next piece of information might be hard to swallow for the over-achievers in the room, but here it is: Rest isn't a reward. Rest is a prerequisite.

Scientific research proves that people who allow their brains to regularly enter a resting state think more creatively, problem-solve more effectively, and experience lower overall anxiety.

This means scheduling downtime the same way you'd schedule a meeting. Block it. Protect it. And if you need a little help convincing your nervous system that it's safe to slow down, that's exactly what we're here for.

Give Your Body Permission to Rest

At MassageLuXe, we believe rest is a radical act that deserves space to be taken. One of the most effective tools for interrupting the stress cycle is massage therapy. A therapeutic massage helps lower cortisol levels, activate the parasympathetic nervous system (your body's "rest and digest" mode), and signal to your brain that you are, in fact, safe to slow down.

Whether you're just beginning to recognize the signs of stress addiction or you've been running on empty for years, your body deserves a reset.

Book your appointment at MassageLuXe today and take the first step toward making rest part of your routine and not just a last resort.

About MassageLuXe

Founded in 2008 in St. Louis, Missouri, MassageLuXe is a fast-growing franchise-based spa company with a mission to provide an unparalleled experience that supports and encourages health, well-being, and quality of life. MassageLuXe delivers the highest quality massage, facial, and waxing services in a comfortable, relaxing, and luxurious environment.

Massage is a service that improves health, promotes relaxation and overall well-being for the consumer, and has been practiced throughout the world for thousands of years. MassageLuXe currently has over 100 locations across 22 states and is planning to double in size in the next three years.