29 ways to take care of your nervous system

How’s your nervous system doing?

Not exactly a party question but an important one these days?

Today we’re talking about why it’s important to take care of your nervous system and how you can so that you can build tolerance and resilience during this stressful time.

Nervous system 101

Your central nervous system has two parts and they’re each responsible for different responses:

1. Autonomic nervous system: flight, fight, or freeze 
2. Parasympathetic nervous system: rest, digest, and restore 

They work together to keep us well and dance back and forth throughout the day.

Our bodies seek homeostasis.

Your life experiences and how sensitive you are make you unique and affects how much nurturing your body needs to regulate itself, to be well, and to feel more grounded and at ease.

Start by noticing when you’re feeling overloaded. 

For me, my anxiety kicks up, I get frustrated, my gut shuts down, I get headaches, my patience drops, and I spin.

How about you?

Next, choose how you are going to fill your cup. This is essential.

I fell into dropping the usual things I do to stay grounded the first two weeks of social distancing. It was a good lesson to relearn. I was not showing up as the sanctuary I strive to be for myself or my family. I pivoted and cut back to the essentials.

Here are 29 ways you can fill your cup so that you can come back to your clear, calm, and present self (even if it’s only 1% closer to that version of you): 

1. Deep breathing – try this 6:3:6:3 breath technique from my Calm Your Crazy Toolkit
2. Laying on the ground or putting your feet in the grass
3. Putting essential oils on your feet (or lotion) then a pair of cozy socks
4. Move your body in a way that feels good
5. Practice yoga: practice with me virtually Sundays at 3pm est or with my recorded classes
6. Shaking – try it. It releases tension like no other
7. Laugh!
8. Cry – don’t hold back. Your tears have stress releasing hormones in them
9. Music. Que a Spotify playlist
10. Declutter a small space
11. Wash your face and hands with cool water
12. Drink a glass of water 
13. Call a friend 
14. Drink tea
15. Spend time in nature
16. Orgasm – with a partner or solo
17. Smell a flower 
18. Go for a walk
19. Take a bath or a shower and imagine the negative energy going down the drain
20. Set boundaries with social media and only follow people that light you up
21. Check in with your grandparents or elderly family members
22. Write and send a card thanking someone
23. Put your hand on your heart and feel it beating
24. Weed your garden
25. Play a song and dance and/or sing that no one is watching
26. Light a candle
27. Diffuse essential oils or place a drop on your hand and smell it – young living is the brand I use and sell – lavender is my favorite. Email me for more info.
28. Make a donation to a cause you believe in
29. Read an inspirational quote or chapter in a book