But let me offer a different perspective – one I’ve seen transform lives and businesses alike: a frazzled nervous system isn’t a rite of passage, it’s a liability.

And, more importantly, there’s a better way.

Why this matters more than ever

I’m Chloe Markham – yoga teacher, coach, and founder of Joy Unplugged and The Yoga Revolution. I work with brilliant, mission-led women who are here to change the world. Many of them run their own businesses, lead teams, and balance a hundred spinning plates at once.

But despite all their drive and ambition, they’re tired, wired, and on edge. They’ve tried the apps, they’ve scheduled the self-care, but the stress remains – lingering in the background like a browser tab that never fully closes.

The truth is, stress isn’t just uncomfortable, but it impacts your decision-making, leadership, relationships, and ability to access the very creativity and intuition that got you into business in the first place.

Stress, in a business context, becomes a strategic block.

And this is where nervous system regulation comes in.

The nervous system: your business's hidden operating system

Your nervous system is constantly scanning for danger – whether real or perceived. When it senses threat (deadlines, difficult conversations, financial pressure, uncertainty), it can shift into a survival state: fight, flight, freeze, or fawn.

In these states, your brain deprioritises long-term thinking, empathy, and even digestion. It focuses on getting you out of the (imagined) danger zone – not helping you confidently lead a business or make clear-headed decisions.

What does this look like in everyday life? It might show up as:

• Snapping at people even though you value kindness
• Procrastinating on important tasks
• Overthinking every decision
• Pushing through even when your body screams for rest
• Losing your passion for the work you once loved

Or, on a more personal level, you might have issues with:

• Digestion
• Sleep
• Decision-making
• Boundary-setting
• Being present

Now imagine the opposite: a regulated nervous system. One that knows how to return to calm after stress. One that allows space for nuance, flexibility, creativity, and joy.

It’s not just ‘nice’, it’s foundational.

Regulation > relaxation

Let’s be clear: this isn’t about simply ‘relaxing more’, this is about building resilience.

A well-regulated nervous system gives you the inner stability to move through challenges with confidence, not collapse. You’re still showing up, but from a place of grounded presence, not panic.

This is the nervous system as your most powerful business tool.

And unlike most business tools, this one’s completely free.

Four simple (and joyful) ways to start

The best part is you don’t need to overhaul your life or add hours to your day. Nervous system support can be beautifully simple.

Here are a few tools I teach inside Joy Unplugged:

1. Micro-moments of calm

We often wait until burnout hits before taking a break, but nervous system care happens in the in-between. Try 30 seconds of slow breathing between tasks. Notice your feet on the floor during Zoom meetings. Step outside for two minutes of fresh air. These tiny pauses signal to your brain: I’m safe. We’re okay. And they make more of a difference than you think.

2. Intentional movement

You don’t need to ‘work out’, you need to move – gently, joyfully, and in a way that reconnects you with your body. Some of the most powerful practices I teach involve lying down and breathing, or swaying to music in your kitchen. Movement helps discharge stress and restore regulation, however you do it.

3. Emotional permission

Most of us try to think our way out of stress. But the nervous system speaks in sensation. Give yourself permission to feel – really feel – without judgement. Sadness, frustration, joy, gratitude… they all have a place. Emotions are waves. The more we let them flow, the more we stay in regulation.

4. Joy as nervous system strategy

 This is my favourite one: joy isn’t a luxury, it’s a nervous system hack. Laughter, music, connection, beauty, a moment of awe… these experiences create a physiological sense of safety. And the more we practice joy, the more resilient we become.

You don’t have to earn your rest

This is the part I wish every entrepreneur knew:

You don’t have to earn rest.

You don’t have to push through.

And you definitely don’t have to sacrifice your wellbeing to be successful.

In fact, the opposite is true.

The most visionary, effective, and joyful leaders I’ve worked with are the ones who’ve learned to regulate their nervous systems. They’re not less ambitious, they’re just more resourced – physically, emotionally, and mentally.

Because calm isn’t the opposite of ambition. It’s what makes it sustainable.

So this Stress Awareness Month, ask yourself: how would your business – and your life – shift if your nervous system felt safe, supported, and steady?

The truth is, when your nervous system is taken care of, everything else flows from there.

Even, and especially, your success.

For more startup news, check out the other articles on the website, and subscribe to the magazine for free. Listen to The Cereal Entrepreneur podcast for more interviews with entrepreneurs and big-hitters in the startup ecosystem.