How's Your Nervous System Doing?
Jersey City
September 20, 2024
Hi There!
I spent the weekend at a beautiful retreat center in PA. The center is on 500 acres and has multiple hiking trails and a pond and lots of areas to quietly experience nature.
I didn’t realize how much I needed to step away from my computer and my phone. The Internet was so sketchy at the retreat that it wasn’t even worth trying to connect. My only option was to relax. Meals were provided and there was nothing I had to do.
I came back to the “real world” Sunday afternoon feeling like I’d taken a nice long nap.
It’s easy to get caught up in the daily crazies. Life is hectic, and information overload can lead to anxiety and burnout.
Take care of your nervous system! It regulates everything. We spend a lot of time in a fight or flight mode, and we really need to lean much more into the rest and digest mode.
Are you feeling anxious? Is your stomach upset? Are you getting headaches? Are you feeling overwhelmed and irritable? Are you having trouble losing weight?
These are all signs that your nervous system is in fight or flight mode. Listen to your body. It’s a sign to pay attention. And then make a shift towards rest and digest.
You may not be able to go away and totally disconnect but you don’t need to. You can take “breathing breaks” during the day or before a stressful situation. Find 5 minutes to sit quietly. Close the door and breathe. Notice the length of your breath. Notice if your breath is high up in your chest or is it low in your belly. Do you feel more relaxed on the inbreath or the exhale? Just notice. No judgement.
You can afford 5 minutes of your day to take care of yourself. I give you permission. And I guarantee it will make a difference in how you feel.
If you need more self-care tips to get you into the rest and digest mode, let me know. Reply to this email.
Be well,
Laura
Do you have a question for me? I’d love to hear from you. To submit just hit reply.
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And more...
· Next Tuesday, Sep 24th I’m offering a class on Reading Nutrition Food Labels. It will be short, less than an hour, and filled with useful information. It’s FREE but you must register. Here is the link. See you on the 24th at 7:00pm EST
· Have you ever wanted to slow down time? I know I have! Here’s an interesting article that explains time and how we can slow it down. It’s easier than you think.
· Did you know that you can sign up for a puzzle rental service? Like old-timey Netflix where they used to mail you DVDs, except they’re puzzles. A great way to de-stress!