Calming your nervous system can be challenging. It takes focus, dedication, and practice to learn how, which is why many go their whole lives without it. But if we want to work out a balanced, healthy, and happy life, calming your nervous system is a vital piece of the equation. If you are learning how to calm your nervous system, here are a few ideas to get you inspired.

Calm Your Nervous System With Mindful Breathing

Buddhism frequently espouses the necessity of mindful breathing more than any source of wisdom except science, and lived experience. Mindful breathing can help you with de-escalating heightened emotions, appreciating the present moment and even growing your relationship with your higher power. There are as many ways to practice mindful breathing as there are functioning sets of lungs, but it can be helpful to follow a tried-and-true procedure, especially if you’re new to it. A great place to start is with the Wim Hof breathing method. The procedure is simple, but the effects are powerful. 

Keep Your Environment Clean

This entry is challenging for me to write. It is easy (and fun) to come up with a million excuses to continue living in a disordered and unclean environment, but the side effects are absolute vibe killers. The little inconveniences of living in a cluttered home add up to a mighty mountain of stress. By making the decision to tidy your living space (no matter how briefly you do it), you’re being proactive with your self-care. Once you’ve proven to yourself that you can do something to take care of yourself, what’s to stop you from doing it again? To make the act of cleaning more enjoyable, make it a time where you explore your passions. You’re not on the clock, and there is no one to admonish you for watching TV, listening to music, or binging a podcast while you do your chores.

Calm Yourself In The Embrace of Nature

If you don’t have the motivation to beautify your immediate surroundings, that’s okay! There’s still a place you can go to find peace and beauty in our chaotic disorderly universe. Unfortunately, said place does not have climate control. But the natural world is exactly where humans flourished and thrived for thousands of years. Embracing nature doesn’t (necessarily) mean buying a tent and becoming an master survivalist, it can be whatever you have room and motivation for. You can take a step into the natural world by going for a walk through your neighborhood, visiting the park, or even just moving into your porch or patio, as long as you wind up seeing a tree of some variety.

Find Calm Through Seeking Meaning

Our brains are hardwired to seek meaning in our everyday lives very much in the same way that our brains seek out food and water. If we go through life apathetic to any higher powers, greater plans, or passionate purpose, we pillage ourselves of our faith and deprive ourselves of meaning. Although for many this can look like tapping into your religious side, you can seek meaning through any activity that connects you to others. You can seek meaning by volunteering in your community, setting aside time for prayer, finding counsel in a trusted mentor or guide, or by expressing yourself artistically.

Calm Yourself Through Gentle Exercise

Our brains are not capable of exercising and maintaining an elevated emotional state at the same time. If you are struggling with the intensity of your emotions, then taking the time to exercise might make a huge difference when it comes to calming your nervous system. However, sometimes we don’t have the energy to go all the way to the gym. That’s where gentle exercise has it’s place in your routine. You can engage in gentle exercise by doing a gentle yoga flow, going for a leisurely walk, or even doing a few pushups if you’re feeling energetic. The important thing to remember is that these tools are always available to you, and modifiable for your accessibility. Coping is always within reach. If you are struggling with anxious symptoms and/or unresolved trauma– the important thing might not be distinguishing between the two but rather gaining some new coping skills to move through life with more ease. 

Sunny Ebsary is an educator, multi-modal artist, and writer specializing in the intersection of myth and mental health. Sunny’s writing walks the line between poetic and logical, giving readers a chance to interface with the mind and imagination. Sunny’s been putting pen to paper since he was a child, writing everything from albums, novels, and plays, to essays, interactive games, and of course, many articles! While studying both psychology and writing, he realized his real passion in life was helping others unlock their creative spark. Whether he’s leading a D&D game, directing a production, or diving deep into the brain, you can be sure Sunny will be ushering you toward finding meaning in your life.