A Few Ways to Reset
There are a few great ways to reset your nervous system and help you find your center once again. These are some of my tried and true favorites.
Hold your tongue out: Yes, sounds weird but I am here to tell you that if you feel that sense of overwhelm, anxiety, and stress, this is a fantastic thing to try. You just hold your tongue out for 40 seconds, clearing your mind and concentrating on the exercise. When you are done, you will feel calmer. I do this often and always receive the expected result.
Hum: Think of your favorite song and begin to hum. I generally do this for about a minute and it never fails to calm me down. When you do this you kick the vagus nerve into gear which is connected to your parasympathetic nervous system, (rest and digest). Then your relaxation switch is flipped.
Box Breathing: To combat your sympathetic nervous system, I encourage you to try box breathing and I have included a pacer below to help. By doing this, you are allowing a small controlled build up of CO2 in your blood, which suppresses flight or flight and jump starts your vagus nerve. It also acts as an anchor, forcing your prefrontal cortex (thinking, logic) to shift focus from the worry or anxiety and concentrate on the breathing, allowing for relaxation to settle in.
Box Breathing Pacer
4s Inhale • 4s Hold • 4s Exhale • 4s Hold
