Reset Your Nervous System With These Helpful Tips

Clutter doesn’t just pertain to belongings in your junk drawer. From an abundance of overwhelming feelings to a never-ending list of unread emails, clutter causes panic, worry, and anxiety. Yet, when it comes time to give your mind a chance to breathe, we don’t know how. Luckily, there are ways to reset and restore your nervous system. Read on to learn how you can find peace in today’s chaotic world. 

Why reset? 

Everybody has experienced that feeling of panic. Even when the moment has passed, it may take minutes or even hours for you to settle down. When faced with panic, your body experiences a fight, flight, or freeze response. Certain situations can set off this emergency response, even if we aren't in danger. Our nervous system can become overworked and require a break due to triggering factors like social media or a difficult conversation. 

Your nervous system serves as the body's command center and directs the majority of our daily activities like breathing, thinking, feeling, and more. Experiencing an abundance of stress can lead to depression and panic attacks. Therefore, it’s vital to check in on yourself to prevent these unwanted experiences and feelings that occur due to an overworked nervous system. 

How to Reset 

You may not be able to regulate your nervous system, but there are steps you can take and phone-free activities you can do to calm yourself down and develop resilience when faced with stressful events. 

Unplug 

We are all aware that limiting your screen time might improve your sleep schedule. But it's also crucial to take a break from your screen in general. Constant internet activity can stress the body out and worsen depression and anxiety.

Unplug from your devices by setting your phone to "Do Not Disturb,” then try getting outside, meditating or reading a book. With the immense amount of information at our fingertips through social media, our phones are a main contributor to day-to-day stress. 

Shake it Off

Moving different portions of your body can relieve stress and trauma. By relaxing muscle tension and releasing adrenaline when we shake our bodies, we bring our nervous system to a neutral position.

Try shaking out your arms or bouncing around a little bit before a public speaking event or an interview to get your nerves out. 

Breathe

No matter where you are, practicing breathwork is a quick and straightforward technique to reduce anxiety. We tell our parasympathetic nervous system to settle down and improve our emotional and mental states when we take a slow deep breath. 

Keep your mouth shut and breathe in and out via your nostrils while slightly tightening your throat. It should sound almost like ocean waves and you should feel a little tickle in the back of your throat.

Weigh it Down 

Many utilize weighted blankets to recreate deep pressure stimulation. A weighted blanket applies a light-even-pressure, which many compare to a hug. This can help people feel peaceful and relaxed. In fact, one study indicated that over half of those who used weighted blankets experienced less anxiety while being hospitalized for a mental health crisis

Cuddle 

The feel-good hormone oxytocin gets released when you cuddle with your loved ones or a pet. A 2017 study found that dog owners not only saw an increase in oxytocin but also saw a reduction in cortisol, the body's main stress hormone. Try cuddling up your pet next time you're feeling anxious or experiencing the fight-or-flight response. 

Get Ahead of Stress

Our nervous system can frequently go into overdrive when exposed to aspects of modern society like technology. It’s important to create healthy habits that help us pre-prepare for moments of panic that arise. Using the tools above, you’ll be set next time you feel overwhelmed or panicked.