Exercise
Move a Muscle, Change a Thought Exercise
For You: Movement as Mental Reset
- Your Movement Menu: Identify three to five different types of movement that work for you in different situations— something for when you're stuck at a desk (e.g., shoulder rolls, desk push-ups), something for when you have five minutes (walk around the building), and something for when you have more time (e.g., neighborhood walk, dance session). Test them this week and note which ones most effectively shift your mental state.
- The Overwhelm Circuit Breaker: When you notice overwhelm building, commit to moving before you try to solve anything. Track for one week: How often did you catch overwhelm early enough to interrupt it with movement? What was the difference in your problem-solving ability after movement versus trying to push through without it?
Your Team: Energy Management in Real Time
- Meeting Movement Protocol: Establish a team norm for movement breaks during long meetings. Experiment with different approaches: scheduled two-minute movement breaks every thirty minutes, or give everyone permission to call for a “movement moment” when they notice energy flagging. Track meeting effectiveness and engagement.
- The Wilty Flower Intervention: Train your team to recognize and respond to “wilty flower syndrome” in each other. Create a simple signal system where team members can indicate when they need a mental reset, and practice different group energizers.
- Virtual Roller Coaster: This is one of my favorite foils for “wilty flower syndrome.” Have everyone lean back in their chairs with their hands on their chest as though they’re holding on to the safety bars of a roller coaster. As you get to the top of the virtual roller coaster, everyone puts their hands in the air as the roller coaster dives down, you sway back and forth (and you, the facilitator, are yelling out directions and generally making a fool of yourself) until the ride “ends.” People will be energized, lighter. They may think you’re a little nuts, and that’s okay too.
I’m Danielle B. Baldwin—coach, facilitator, keynote speaker, and proud firestarter.
I work with curious, courageous leaders who are ready to grow beyond what’s safe and into what’s next. Whether it’s in the boardroom, the backwoods, or the pages of my new book Sparking Greatness, I help people find clarity, ditch burnout, and lead with heart. My job? To make you feel seen, challenged, and just uncomfortable enough to change.