Life can be very stressful, your attention being pulled in so many different directions every day. All of this outward stimulation takes your attention away from yourself and over-stimulates your nervous system. Nowadays, peace and quiet can be hard to come by. That's why it's so important for good health and well-being to take moments to focus on reducing stress, relaxing the nervous system so that the brain and body can recover.
So here are 5 ways to relax your nervous system throughout your day (and feel less stressed):
𝟭- 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆.
Take deep breaths, stretch, take your time getting out of bed. There is no need to rush. Spend several minutes just you, your breath, and your body to keep your nervous system calm as you start your day.
𝟮- 𝗘𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.
Take a few breaths before starting a snack or a meal to calm yourself down. Phones away. Focus on the food. No other simultaneous task. Breathe deeply and appreciate every bite. Avoid rushing off right after a meal to start the next thing. Allow your body time to rest and digest.
𝟯- 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲.
Avoid overwhelming yourself by trying to work on a bunch of things at once. There are so many distractions nowadays! Commit to focusing on one task at a time, and resist the urge to check your phone, emails, etc. during that time.
𝟰- 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲.
Avoid distractions like phones when in the bathroom. Yes, even on the toilet! This is a great time to minimize stimulation, relax the nervous system, focus on and connect to your body.
𝟱- 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝘆.
Little moments where you can be alone, where it's quiet, close your eyes and breathe. This helps the brain take a break from all the stimulation and gives your nervous system a chance to come down from all the activation. Try this before bed, too, for a better night's sleep.😴
