Overwhelmed? Three Easy Ways to Help.

Let’s cut to the chase. I don’t feel like I need to go into all the reasons we may be feeling overwhelmed right now. We see it in each other’s eyes when someone asks, “How are you?”

Let’s help your body and spirit not get further run down with some short body-based practices. Not because that is just a nice idea, but because you feeling your best is important to the fabric of your daily life and the life of your loved ones.

1. Lie Down on the Floor

Lie down on the floor. Preferably a soft, warm floor in a warm space, unless the cool is soothing to you. If the floor is too hard, then choose your bed or another supportive space that provides grounding feedback to your body. This grounding feedback gives your body a sense of safety.

Feel the floor under your flat hands. Feel it supporting your head, back, hips, legs, and feet. Lie here until you feel like falling asleep and then get up slowly. Or stay there and nap.

2. Palming the Eyes

When sitting or lying down, rub your palms together for a few seconds to create some warmth. Place the heels of your palms over your eyes, sealing out the light. Hold them there for as long as you like. Take 2–3 steadying breaths.

The darkness decreases the overwhelm your nervous system is managing.

3. Go Outside

Go outside anytime, but especially at night after dark, just to breathe in the cold air. Look up at the sky and take in the empty, sleeping trees. Again, the natural surroundings—hopefully free of noise and light—are steadying to your nervous system.

Nervous system regulation is something that happens both with a steady practice over time and in small moments. For your body, every single thing boils down to a sense of “am I safe or not safe?” In this case, feeling safe in your body means safe from overwhelm, criticism, fatigue, overindulgence in foods, difficult family dynamics, overspending, etc., etc. A body that does not feel safe is one that is more open and vulnerable to chronic conditions.

This holiday season, we wish you a deep sense of safety, and from that place, Peace and Joy. Happy holidays!

For more information about nervous system regulation, please see previous blog posts and talk with your Partnered Healing Provider.

Written by Jessica Cochran BSN RN

Integrative Life Coach