Physical Movement, That's all?
When Your Mind Feels Stuck, Move Your Body
Things You Can Do When You're Grieving or Feeling Depressed
Grief can leave you feeling frozen. Learn how gentle movement supports mental health and calms your nervous system during hard times.
Grief has weight.
You feel it in your chest. Your shoulders. Your stomach.
And sometimes it makes you feel frozen.
If that’s you, you’re not weak. You’re grieving.
There’s something simple that can help.
The Body Can Lead the Mind
Dr. Andrew Huberman, neuroscientist and Stanford professor, explains:
“The body is the fastest way to change the mind. Movement creates brain states.”
When you’re grieving, your thoughts can spiral. But your body gives you another entry point.
Movement — even small movement — sends signals to your brain that help regulate stress and stabilize mood.
Not intense workouts.
Not pushing yourself.
Just gentle motion.
Why Walking Helps
Huberman also discusses something called “optic flow.” When you walk forward and your eyes take in the passing world, it naturally calms the nervous system.
That’s why even a slow walk around the block can reduce anxiety.
During the Acute Loss Period — those first days after a death — your nervous system is on overload. There are decisions to make and emotions rising unexpectedly.
A 10-minute walk can help reset that overload.
If walking feels like too much, start even smaller:
- Stand up and stretch
- Roll your shoulders
- Walk to the mailbox
- Fold one load of laundry
These aren’t productivity hacks. They are nervous system support.
At Mueller Memorial, we guide families carefully through those early days because we understand how physically exhausting grief can be. Through our Grief Compass, we continue offering tools and structure long after the service.
And here’s something worth considering.
Thoughtful funeral pre-planning removes dozens of decisions from your family’s shoulders someday. That reduction in stress makes a real difference during grief.
You don’t have to fix your pain.
But you can take one small step.
And sometimes, that’s enough for today.
