I recently came across the '90-second rule', a concept from neuroanatomist Dr Jill Bolte Taylor's 2021 book Whole Brain Living. The idea is that our physiological response to emotions like anger lasts only 90 seconds, from the initial thought to when our blood is clear of the released noradrenaline. US magazine Bustle suggested this timeout could 'reset your vibe', framing it as a quick alternative to a lunch break.
I decided to test the rule for a day. By 7am, listening to the Today programme, I felt angry and started a timer. Ninety seconds felt surprisingly long; I quickly grew bored of 'enjoying' my anger and began planning lunch. Next came anxiety, which was harder to appreciate. I tried to flatter myself as a finely tuned fight-or-flight animal, but the seconds dragged.
I continued through the morning, mostly experiencing anxiety and occasional fury, before realising that pausing for 90 seconds for every strong emotion was too time-consuming for a workday. Taking a 90-second lunch break to compensate seemed a poor trade-off, as lunch is my one reliable moment of joy.
Ultimately, the 90-second rule didn't make me less angry or anxious. Instead, it highlighted that emotions don't simply vanish after 90 seconds; we often 'rethink the thoughts', as Bolte Taylor notes, prolonging the reaction. For me, the rule was impractical and ineffective, and I'll stick to my usual coping strategies.
