As I walked to the cinema, I was riddled with angst. “Will The Devil Wears Prada 2 be a eulogy to fashion as we know it?” I wondered. Yet another dispiriting glimpse into the future for an ambitious Gen-Z? In the end it was pretty familiar – particularly one scene, which finds Emily Charlton – played by Emily Blunt – sitting cross-legged on her bed, EFT tapping and muttering, “May the bridges I burn light my way.” My boyfriend (a quarter-zip wearing tech whizz), glanced over at me and chuckled – the stress-addled sight on screen was familiar to him.
.jpg)
While I love my job, it’s no secret that it can be pretty intense at times, which the films illustrate in detail. From ideating features to juggling deadlines and events and urgent requests, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the to-do list. Like Emily, in these moments I find it helps me to take a deep breath and concentrate on active mindfulness techniques, such as tapping, which can have an instant soothing effect.
“EFT tapping works by regulating the nervous system through gentle ‘tapping’ motions on nine acupressure points – such as your face, hands and chest – with a focused thought, word, or emotion,” wellbeing coach Adrienne Adhami tells British Vogue. This helps your brain move from “fight or flight” to “rest and digest” mode. The method was developed back in the ’90s – coincidentally, the golden age of magazines – by Gary Craig, an engineer who was passionate about wellbeing and simple mental health remedies.
“Many of us are living very busy lives and feel over-stimulated,” says Adhami. Tapping is a quick, easy way to slow down and stay calm. To tap effectively, start by taking a few even breaths and choosing a relaxing phrase, such as, “I trust my body to find balance and relief.” Or, “what is meant for me will never pass me.” Then, tap the side of your hand while reciting the phrase three times, and move on to the other acupressure points, tapping them seven times.
I can attest that self-help techniques can be very useful (and discreet) in the moment, but are not “a substitute for professional mental health care for severe or chronic conditions,” as lifestyle physician Dr Aileen Alexander, cautions. Tapping can, however, be guided by a mental health practitioner when being used to address more complex, emotional problems.
It’s just one of many effective methods that can help to alleviate stress and anxiety. “You could try the box breathing technique, belly breathing, or the 4-7-8 breathing rule,” Alexander adds. There are also grounding methods, such as the 5-4-3-2-1 rule, which shifts your focus to the senses – a great way to momentarily tap out of a stressful situation.
