Managing Modern Stress: Deepika Padukone and Arianna Huffington Share the ’60-Second Reset’ Technique

Stress is an unavoidable aspect of modern life, especially when juggling personal and professional responsibilities. However, managing it effectively is essential for overall well-being. Recently, actress Deepika Padukone and media mogul Arianna Huffington sat down during the LiveLoveLaugh Lecture Series to discuss a simple but powerful stress management technique. This marked Padukone’s first public appearance after welcoming her baby girl in September.

Arianna Huffington, founder and CEO of Thrive Global, introduced the concept of the ’60-second reset’ as a tool to help manage stress. “Stress is inevitable,” Huffington explained when Padukone inquired about the method. “But cumulative stress is avoidable.” She emphasized that these resets, based on neuroscience, work by shifting the body from the sympathetic (fight-or-flight) to the parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) nervous system in just 60 to 90 seconds.

Huffington added, “Whenever you receive bad news or feel overwhelmed, you can play this reset video. In just 60 seconds, you’ll be reminded of what you love about your life—whether it’s photos of your children, favorite quotes, or music.”

Dr. Aarushi Dewan, a clinical psychologist and founder of Coping Keys, explained the psychology behind the ’60-second reset.’ According to her, the method incorporates mindfulness, cognitive behavioral techniques (CBT), and neuroscience to interrupt the stress cycle and help regulate the body’s autonomic nervous system, reducing both emotional and physical stress responses.

Key mechanisms at play include:

• Mindfulness and Present Moment Awareness: Stress often leads to intrusive thoughts or anxiety. The ’60-second reset’ redirects attention through deep breathing or grounding exercises, shifting focus from stressors to the present moment. This helps deactivate the fight-or-flight response and activates relaxation.
• Cognitive Distraction and Reappraisal: By interrupting rumination and negative thought patterns, the reset lowers the emotional intensity of stressors, making them feel more manageable.
• Physiological Benefits: Even brief moments of focused attention or deep breathing can lower cortisol levels and reduce heart rate, providing immediate relief from stress.

While the ’60-second reset’ is effective in reducing immediate symptoms like overwhelm and irritability, Dr. Dewan emphasized that it is less effective for chronic, cumulative stress on its own. Long-term stress, which builds up over time, requires a more comprehensive approach to stress management. Integrating the reset technique into a broader strategy that includes mindfulness, regular breaks, and lifestyle adjustments is crucial for sustained well-being.