7 Easy Habits to Help you Optimize your Nervous System

Do you consider yourself a hard charging performer? Have you suffered trauma or intense stress in the past?

There is a good chance that your nervous system may be overtaxed. This is what happened to me, and learning how to adapt is what changed everything.

There are many ways to find balance and protect yourself in the future. This is great news because it means your life is not determined by fate.

You may find there are some habits which are surprisingly optimizing.

Here are my easy to follow tips to help improve your nervous system:

HABIT #1 MEDITATION

Meditation helps optimize your nervous system by teaching you how to control your thoughts and emotions.

When you meditate, you learn how to focus your attention and become more aware of your thoughts and feelings.

This allows you to control your reactions to stressors and better manage your overall stress levels.

Meditation has also been shown to help reduce anxiety, depression, and pain. So, when you’re establishing a good foundation, think of meditation as medication.

“It feels good. Kinda like when you have to shut your computer down, just sometimes when it goes crazy, you just shut it down and when you turn it on, it’s okay again. That’s what meditation is to me.” ~Ellen DeGeneres

HABIT #2 GO WALK IN NATURE

There are lots of ways that walking in nature can help to optimize your nervous system. Besides the 7th habit, this is probably my favorite.

Being in nature can help to reduce stress and anxiety, just like meditation. This, of course, is super beneficial for your nervous system.

Additionally, walking can help to improve your overall circulation.

To have the gift of two legs is a blessing we should never take for granted. Love your body and your body will love you back.

Walking can help to improve your sleep and reduce your risk of depression, and improve your mood. You’ll see that after taking a good walk, your nervous system won’t be “nervous” anymore.

“If you are in a bad mood go for a walk. If you are still in a bad mood go for another walk.” ~Hippocrates

HABIT #3 GROUNDING

Grounding yourself can help to optimize your nervous system in a few different ways.

Like the other habits, it serves to bring down stress and anxiety levels, as well as improve your sense of well-being. It also reduces inflammation in the body.

Moreover, grounding can help to improve sleep quality and reduce pain levels.

Through the absorption of negative ions, it serves to boost your cognitive function and increasing your overall energy levels.

When you combine this with walking in nature, it’s like the caffeine of the Universe!

HABIT #4 TAKE A NAP

Taking a nap can help optimize your nervous system by giving your body a chance to rest and recover.

We may not need as much sleep as we think, but resting is always required.

When you are well-rested, your nervous system is able to function at its best. You feel invigorated, enlivened, and ready to seize the day.

There have been times when I felt hungry but, after taking a nap, the cells in my body were satiated.

It’s refreshing to the point that you could call it “Nap Nutrition”!

HABIT #5 PLAYING WITH PETS

Playing with pets has been shown to be nourishing for your nervous system.

Pets can help you to de-stress and relax, which can assist in improving your overall health.

Playing with pets can help to increase your levels of serotonin and dopamine, which does wonders for your mood.

Pets can provide companionship and social support, which can lead to less loneliness and feelings of isolation.

Pets can also help you to get more exercise, which directly improves your cardiovascular health.

HABIT #6 SPENDING TIME WITH LOVED ONES

Spending time with loved ones is one of the best ways to optimize your nervous system.

When you're around people you care about, your body releases feel-good chemicals like oxytocin and endorphins.

These chemicals help to magically drop stress and anxiety, and lead to promoted relaxation.

In addition, spending time with loved ones can supercharge your mood and improve your overall sense of well-being.

HABIT #7 READ A RELAXING BOOK

Reading a relaxing book helps in optimizing your nervous system by reducing the amount of stress hormones in your body.

This, in turn, helps you to feel more relaxed and easy going. Eventually, this leads to you improving your well-being and cultivates that sense of childlike wonder.

There’s almost nothing I love more than having my nose in a good book. It’s one of best ways to time travel.

“Miss a meal if you have to, but don't miss a book.” ~Jim Rohn

All the above are great habits to try yourself if you could.

Below are some BONUS habits that surely do you some good.

HABIT #8 BREATHWORK

Relaxing breathwork is a powerful tool that can help to reconfigure your nervous system.

When you are feeling stressed, your body is in a state of fight-or-flight, which can lead to a host of negative consequences.

Relaxing breathwork helps to counter the effects of stress by inducing a state of relaxation.

This assists in lowering your heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration. As well as reduce stress hormones.

Aiming to practice 2-3 times per day is extremely effective.

A good Mantra to heed: “The more your breathe, the less you need.”

HABIT #9 SLOW FLOW YOGA

Slow flow yoga helps to optimize your nervous system by reducing stress and anxiety levels, and promoting a sense of calm and relaxation.

This in turn helps to drastically improve your mental and physical health.

Slow flow yoga can help to optimize your nervous system by stretching the body and opening energy channels.

It greatly improves flexibility and range of motion.

Anything we do for the physical also affects us on the mental level. So remember, a flexible body is a flexible mind.

HABIT #10 CHANTING OR SINGING

Chanting or singing helps to calm and focus the mind.

It helps to ease anxiety and stress. It helps to improve sleep quality and, as well, improves overall well-being.

Chanting or singing helps in strengthening your vagus nerve by providing a rhythmic and calming activity that can help to soothe and de-stress the mind and body.

The act of chanting also requires deep breathing, which goes back to promoting relaxation.

Additionally, the vibrations created by chanting can clear channels, break up blockages in the body, and promote healing.

These are some of my favorite, easy-to-follow habits that have helped me immensely improve the quality of my overall health.

You’ll find your reality renewed with a relaxed nervous system.

Thanks for reading! What are your daily habits that have brought a change in your life? Comment below and let me know!