Overdrive is Overrated
Recharge without losing momentum using this two-minute breath reset.
There’s a line between driven and drained. Most of us sprint right over it.
I’m sure you know what I mean…
You start the day sharp, fueled by purpose (and maybe caffeine), but somewhere between noon and your third meeting, you realize your shoulders are in your ears, your brain’s buffering, and your breath hasn’t reached your ribs in hours.
So you push harder. And you tell yourself you’ll slow down later – after this call, this project, this week.
But “later” never seems to show up.
Overdrive is sneaky in that it feels like control. Until your body pulls the emergency brake for you.
The headache, the fog, the frustration at tiny things? That’s not weakness. That’s your nervous system begging for a pit stop. And the best way to give it one isn’t another shot of espresso or a walk you don’t have time for.
It’s your breath – the single lever you can pull to reset your energy without losing momentum, time, or sleep later on.
The Myth of Momentum
We glorify momentum like it’s a virtue. As if the only way to keep going is to never stop.
But momentum isn’t the same as endurance. It’s not about constant motion. It’s about rhythm: effort and recovery, push and release.
When your breath stays shallow (the default under stress), your nervous system never gets the message that it’s safe to recover. So your heart rate stays up, your muscles hang onto tension, your tunnel vision gets narrower and narrower…
This is great in a crisis. It’s terrible as a lifestyle.
Real stamina (the kind that lets you finish strong instead of running on fumes) doesn’t come from powering through. It comes from recovery built into your effort from the beginning.
Not rest later. Reset now.
And your breath is the quickest way to do that.
A 2-Minute Boost That Doesn’t Crash Later
This mini stacked breathing technique is like adding some sunlight to your solar panels. It’ll wake you up, but in a steady, sustainable way.
Here’s how it works:
Sit or stand tall so your lungs have space.
Inhale a short “sip” of air through your nose.
Without exhaling, take a second sip and then a third, stacking the air as if you’re filling three layers of your lungs.
Exhale slowly through your mouth until all the air is out.
Repeat 4-6 times, then breathe normally for a minute.
What’s cool about this technique is that it’s both a power-up and a pressure release.
The three small inhales expand your diaphragm, stretches your intercostal muscles (the ones between your ribs), and improves ventilation. At the same time, the long exhale helps break the pattern and impacts of over-breathing.
When to Use It
Pretty much anytime you want. Need some inspiration?
During the afternoon slump. Before reaching for another cup of coffee, try this instead.
Before a big meeting. It sharpens focus without the jitters.
After a long drive or screen session. Add a chest stretch by pinching your shoulder blades together.
Anytime you’ve been “on” too long. Think of it as a microcharge, not a full recharge.
This breath gives you energy through expansion, not stimulation. You’re (literally) filling yourself to capacity instead of squeezing more out.
The Science Bit
There’s a misconception that breathing is about “more oxygen”. It’s really about balance. You need the right ratio of oxygen and carbon dioxide – especially when it comes to endurance.
When you overwork or under-breathe, CO₂ builds up and makes you feel foggy, headache-y, fatigued. To the opposite, when you over-breathe (like during stress), you lose too much CO₂ and feel lightheaded or anxious.
Stacked breathing recalibrates both by expanding lung capacity while maintaining steady control over the exhale. So your body gets the signal that it’s safe to release tension and sustain energy.
It’s the equivalent of flipping your nervous system’s breaker and turning the lights back on – without blowing the fuse.
Strong ≠ Spent
Screw “powering through” to prove you’re strong. Instead, try working with your body instead of against it.
The next time you feel that mid-afternoon crash coming on, try this: three small sips of air, one longer exhale, and a reminder that recovery isn’t the opposite of effort – it’s what makes effort sustainable.
Last Gasp
“The pause is as important as the note.”
~ Truman Fisher
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There’s plenty more where this came from… but it’s not on Substack.
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I loved this one - it felt so cool!