The Stress Hack I Wish I Knew Sooner

This 10-Minute technique helped me stop overthinking and feel refreshed

AuthorAuthor

Jessica Ribbens & Bailey
January 31, 2025

Stressed? You’re Not Alone (Here’s How I Started to Cope)
A few months ago, I was drowning in stress. Between moving, planning a wedding, and juggling work, it felt like I couldn’t catch my breath. Ever felt like that?

I knew I needed to take breaks to stay sane, but actually doing it? That was a whole other story.

I couldn’t relax, couldn’t sleep, and even when I did try to take a break (like a 15-minute walk or snack), I’d end up overthinking or scrolling on my phone. Anyone else guilty of this?

If that sounds familiar, I get it. Between work and personal life, stress is for real, and finding ways to unwind can feel impossible when you barely have time to breathe.

Then I discovered something that actually worked: NSDR—Non-Sleep Deep Rest.

It’s a technique that lets your mind and body recharge without actually falling asleep. Trust me, it helps with stress, focus, and energy. I even talked about it on the Remote Work Tips podcast—check it out here: NSDR (Non-Sleep Deep Rest) - Tip#100 with Jessica Ribbens by Remote Routine

Since I started doing this twice a week, it’s helped me decrease anxiety, stop the overthinking loop, and actually stay grounded in the present moment.

How to Do It:

  • Find a quiet spot to sit or lay down

  • Search for a 10-20 min guided NSDR session on YouTube

  • Follow along with breathing exercises and a body scan

When you're done, you’ll feel calm, refreshed, and surprisingly awake (without any grogginess).


Here’s one of my favorites: [NSDR]

I’d love to know if you give it a try! Hit reply and share your experience. Or, tell me—what’s your go-to way to de-stress?

-Jessica, the human behind REMOTivatEd

Hello humans!

I need to ask you something because my human does this thing every morning, and I’m not sure if it’s normal.

Every morning, before they start working, they get up, turn on all the lights, and play some music while they prepare their magic juice ☕. I call this “waking up the house”, but my human calls it their “morning ritual”.

I think this is how my human readies their brain for the day. Us dogs usually have a little stretch ourselves.

Do you have a morning ritual? Hit reply and tell me—I'm curious.

-Bailey

We’re on a mission to grow our remote work community! If you think someone else could use this mix of stress relief and Bailey’s insights, forward this newsletter to one person who might enjoy it. It helps a ton! 😊