By Diane Kathrine | Source
Did you know that irritability is one of the first signs that your nervous system is dysregulated?
Makes sense for those of us who are naturally laid back.
I know I can get irritable if I’ve experienced too much stress or if I’ve picked up too much emotional energy. But I also get ‘the prickly wobbles’ when a certain food does not agree with my body.
The point is, we all need to give our nervous system a break from time to time. Yet with hectic lives, finding time for ourselves can sometimes feel like an impossibility.
So, today I present you with five 5-minute hacks that are aimed at quickly calming your nerves and thus giving the old nervous system a break.
Before I get to that, I should probably give you a brief nervous system overview:
The nervous system plays a crucial role in coordinating and regulating our bodily functions.
It consists of two main parts: the central nervous system (CNS), which includes the brain and spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system (PNS), which encompasses all the nerves outside the CNS.
The nervous system is responsible for functions such as memory, learning, and emotional regulation.
So, yes, pretty important for us Empaths to keep on top of it.
If we don’t work to maintain the health of the nervous system it can impact our overall well-being and quality of life. It can also make Empath life more difficult.
Taking intentional breaks allows the nervous system to recuperate, reducing stress levels and helping to prevent burnout, which can also help restore balance.
This not only enhances mental clarity but also improves our mood and emotional regulation. (meaning we can better control those pesky emotions).
I must add, before I get to the hacks, that the absolute best way I have found to quickly balance my nervous system is by having a regular short yoga practice that is heavily focused on my breath. Without the breath focus, yoga simply becomes a form of gymnastics.
Not to say there’s anything wrong with gymnastics, but it doesn’t have the same recuperative benefits.
That said, I know not everyone practices yoga, and as time is often short, we still need quick ways to reset.
And that’s what I hope to offer with these quick hacks.
1. Practice Deep Breathing
A really easy one to try is the 4-count breath.
Inhale for 4 seconds, hold the breath for 4 seconds, exhale for 4 seconds, and hold the breath again for 4 seconds. Then repeat for as long as feels good. A few minutes is normally enough.
When you inhale allow your belly to fill up like a balloon. I find this really helps with relaxation.
I also find the breath retention part particularly good for letting go of internal stress and returning calm
2. Take a Power Walk
A short 5-minute brisk walk can do wonders for resetting your nervous system. Round the block or even on the spot.
It is a good idea, with your walk, to try and get yourself a little breathless. It helps shed the stress.
3. Listen to Music
Pop your earphones in and listen to one of your favourite songs. Even better, sing or hum along (I find singing or humming in public places really helps to ‘blast away’ the emotions of others).
Music can release those feel-good hormones that help melt away the stresses of your day. Putting your earphones just makes the experience more immersive.
4. Have a Snack
Ever suffered from being hangry? This is a sign of having low blood sugar and nervous system dysregulation.
By having a snack containing protein and fat (not sugar), it can help stabilise your blood sugar.
Even better if you follow this with a brisk power walk.
5. Hydrate
This may seem like an odd one, but often when we are stressed, we are also dehydrated.
When the internal workings of our body are doing more than usual, by being stressed, it can lead to dehydration.
By glugging down plenty of clean mineralized water, it can really have an uplifting cleansing effect. Adding in a slice of lemon also helps, because stress depletes vitamin C.
So, there you go, 5 quick ways to give your nervous system a well-deserved break.
Have you tried any of the above? Did you find them helpful?
Ok, that’s it for today.
I hope everything is keeping fabulous in your world.
Until next time.
Diane
Another thing that could help people is keeping plants around.
They could help health. A Areca palm tree absorbs carbon dioxide while it filters out many chemicals like benzene, formaldehyde, xylene/toluene, trichloroethylene and other air pollutants created by many adhesives, carpet, paints and stains, tobacco smoke, and gas ranges. It grows as high as 30 feet outdoors, but in interior locations, it tends to average only 6 to 7 feet. There are many other plants, the peace lily is good at filtering out trichloroethylene and benzene at the same time releasing large volumes of oxygen into the air. The Boston ferns is effective in generating large amounts of oxygen during the night. It removes toxic chemicals such as benzene and formaldehyde.
Many other house plants are available that do the same.
Plus there are in door plants that reduce radiation that have been proven by science.
Aloe Vera. According to a study by the Radiation Oncology Department, Cancer Institute, Tehran, the Aloe Vera is skilled in absorbing radiation.
Spider Plant. Researchers from the Department of Biochemistry at the Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, in Kolkata, India, found in a study that spider plant absorbs electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation and various harmful gases such as formic acid and aldehyde.
Asparagus Fern. A study on the Medicinal Properties of Selected Asparagus Species states that the plant may tend to absorb gamma radiation. It is also excellent in absorbing non-ionizing radiation.
Betel Leaf Plant. According to this study at the biochemistry Kolkata department, the betel leaf plant prevents radiation in a concentration-dependent manner. The plant extracts have been proven to preserve the DNA from radiation in some conditions.
English Ivy. According to a study done at the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering, the University of Tennessee, nanoparticles in English Ivy work effectively in absorbing UV radiation that may cause long-term problems like skin cancer, melanoma, cataracts, and immune suppression.
Snake Plant. Effective in absorbing radiation from Wifi transmitters and other electronic equipment.
Than there is the Aerium machine it creates the same effect as having 25 houseplant in a home. It uses spirulina algae growing to filter the air.
Maybe beneficial
Wow, fascinating about the benefits of plants, Tony. I never would have guessed, thank you.
This lady has reminded me to breathe deeply more often!