Subscribe!Tricks to deal with everyday stressors 😠😡
In my previous blogs — click to read #1 and #2— I talked about the vagus nerve and the balance of the autonomic nervous system. To recap: when stimulated the vagus nerve releases a neurotransmitter that slows the heart rate, the brain senses the calmness and tells the body that it’s safe to relax. This is especially helpful in stressful situations.
How do you apply this knowledge to everyday life? What do you do, for example, if something upsetting happens first thing in the morning? You don’t necessarily want to carry those negative feelings 😬 around for the rest of the day. How can you stimulate your vagus nerve and rebalance your nervous system? Here are some simple ways:
- Humming 🎶— a great way to make mundane tasks fun
- Singing 🎤
- Laughing 😃— the best kind of mouth breathing
- Gargling 🍋— my favorite way of protection against cold and flu
- Conscious breathing 😌— breathing through the nose while engaging the diaphragm and extending the exhales
Stuck in traffic in your car? Start humming. Waiting in line at the store? Breathe in through your nose for 4 counts, and breathe out through your nose for 4. You’ll boost your mood, balance your nervous system, and support your heart health!
Want to assess your breathing? Click here to set up a chat! We can talk about what to do and better your breathing. All within a month!
Stay healthy, stay happy.