We recently hosted a wellness webinar all about chronic stress called Healing Your Nervous System. Your nervous system influences how you show up in every single situation throughout the day. Being able to regulate your nervous system and relieve stress is key to holistic wellbeing.
Try these techniques to regulate your nervous system when feeling anxious, stressed, overwhelmed, or need to regulate your emotions.
- Heel taps. Breathe evening into both sides of your chest as you tap your heels to the ground for 30 seconds. This helps you find and release areas of tension.
- Put down the phone. Give yourself a brief mental break by leaving your phone on the table face down or keeping it outside the bathroom.
- Progressive muscle relaxation. Starting from your toes and working your way to your head, engage and slowly release tension in each muscle group.
- Repeat a mantra. Think of a brief, positive phrase that brings you calm, confidence, and clarity.
- Listen to brown noise. Characterized by higher energy at lower frequencies, listen for relaxation, meditation, or to help you fall asleep.
- Cut caffeine intake in half. Excessive caffeine can increase anxiety, so keep your intake below 200mg if possible and cut off your consumption at 12pm each day.
- Take a cold shower. Stand in cold water for at least 60 seconds or end each shower you take by turning the water cold.
If you are interested in seeing the full wellness class and learning more about skin health, you can watch on the Wellness and Work-Life YouTube Channel. This class was taught by Certified Health and Life Coach Dr. Abby Horton.