Rest and Relax: How to Calm Your Nervous System
More than 55% of Americans are stressed in their day-to-day lives. Nearly 60% report feeling paralyzed because of it, while others experience tension, anger, or mood swings.
Not surprisingly, stress affects both mental and physical health. It’s a major contributing factor to anxiety, depression, pain, and chronic illnesses. In the long run, it can interfere with your career and personal life, making it harder to reach your full potential.
If you’re wondering how to calm your nervous system, get ready to make some lifestyle changes. Small things, such as deep breathing and meditation, can mitigate the effects of stress on your mind and body.
Not sure where to start? Try these strategies to find your calm and feel like yourself again.
Stimulate Your Vagus Nerve
Have you ever heard of the vagus nerve? Its role is to carry signals from your brain to the stomach and internal organs—and the other way around. It plays a key role in mental health, organ function, muscle contraction, and more.
Stimulating your vagus nerve may help relieve anxiety and depression symptoms, among other benefits. This practice is also used in the treatment of epilepsy, mood disorders, and inflammatory diseases.
Chronic stress, trauma, and other factors can affect this nerve, taking a toll on your health. Viral infections, diabetes, and aging play a role, too. Read about vagus nerve damage so you can address this problem before it’s too late.
Incorporate Yoga into Your Routine
Yoga is clinically proven to calm the mind and reduce stress. What you may not know is that it also stimulates the vagus nerve, leading to better overall health.
This centuries-old practice can improve your mood and induce feelings of well-being. On top of that, it may relieve depression symptoms and enhance your ability to cope with stress. Plus, it keeps your joints and muscles flexible, making everyday movements easier.
If you’re new to yoga, start with basic poses, such as the plank, the child’s pose, and Tadasana, or the mountain pose. Practice for 10 to 20 minutes and work your way up to 50 minutes or longer.
Commit to Regular Exercise
Regular physical activity does more than just burn calories. It’s also a great tool for managing anxiety, stress, depression, and chronic pain.
Clinical evidence indicates that exercise can mitigate the emotional impact of stress and improve mental health. What’s more, people who work out regularly are less likely to experience anger, confusion, and other negative feelings.
The best part is, you don’t need a gym membership to reap the benefits. Brisk walking, jogging, gardening, and other activities count as exercise, too.
Plus, you can always use resistance bands, free weights, or medicine balls to work out at home.
Learn How to Calm Your Nervous System and Fight Stress
Now that you know how to calm your nervous system, go ahead and give it a try. Start your day with 10 minutes of yoga, go for a walk after work, and meditate for 15 to 20 minutes at bedtime. What matters most is to be consistent and stick to your routine.
Meanwhile, browse our Health section for other tips on how to improve your mental well-being. We’ll show you how to fight stress, what to do when you’re feeling depressed, where to get help, and much more!
