Stuck in Decision Paralysis?
How Play Can Help You Break Free
Ever feel frozen by even the smallest decision — like what to eat, which task to tackle, or whether to text someone back?
You’re not alone. That shutdown feeling has a name: decision paralysis — and it’s a real response from a brain that’s overwhelmed, overworked, or stuck in survival mode.
If you're living with chronic stress, burnout, or a dysregulated nervous system (hello, fellow trauma survivors and chronic illness warriors), you probably know this sensation well. The to-do list piles up, and suddenly even choosing feels exhausting.
But here’s something many of us were never taught:
Healing doesn’t have to be hard. Sometimes, it starts with play.
I know — it sounds counterintuitive. But play isn’t just for kids or carefree moments. It’s actually a powerful tool for nervous system regulation and burnout recovery.
Why Play Works (Even for Grownups with Full Plates and Tired Brains)
When you're stuck in freeze mode — that feeling of numbness, stillness, or indecision — your nervous system is signaling, “I don’t feel safe enough to act.” That’s not a mindset issue. That’s a biological response.
But when you engage in playful activities — things that spark curiosity, joy, or gentle movement — you send your body the message: It’s safe to be here. It’s safe to soften. It’s safe to choose again.
Play helps:
✅ Increase mental flexibility
✅ Reduce stress and inflammation
✅ Shift you out of fight/flight/freeze and into your rest-and-restore mode
✅ Rebuild a sense of safety and agency in your body
And the best part? You don’t have to force it. Or fake it. Or do it perfectly.
You just have to start small — and show up.
Join Me for a Live, Gentle Nervous System Reset: May Play Recharge Room
If this resonates with you, I’d love to invite you to a free event where we’ll practice this together.
🧠 Trauma-informed, nervous system-friendly
💻 Virtual + zero pressure
✨ Designed for real humans with real lives
📅 Monday, May 19
🕔 5 PM PT / 8 PM ET
🎟 [Reserve your free spot here]
You’ll leave with simple, repeatable tools to:
💛 Get unstuck when you're overwhelmed
💛 Feel more grounded and resourced
💛 Reconnect to your body, your breath, and your capacity for ease
Whether you're deep in a healing journey, recovering from burnout, or just trying to get through the week — this space is for you.
You don’t have to earn rest. You don’t have to hustle your way to healing.
You just get to come as you are — and play your way back to life.
Let’s rewire survival mode — gently, joyfully, and together.
Hope to see you in the Recharge Room.
💛
Lauren
@ChronicCoachLauren