Now is the time to really invest in the practices you have been working on all winter. Prepare for the spring blossoms of your life.
The regenerative energy of winter encourages us to rest more, recover from the stressors of our lives and to invest in healing. Those healing practices have been helping you build the energy to push into spring. Now, let's elevate those practices to the next level.
Your nervous system at rest
Oh the parasympathetic nervous system- "Rest and Recover" or some people say "Rest and Digest." However, you refer to it, the important thing to understand is that this part of the nervous system is that it helps your body heal.
It also:
improves sleep
improves digestion
supports your immune system
is involved in your sex drive
We want a natural balance between the parasympathetic and the sympathetic (fight or flight) but I feel like in the winter, it's good to give a little extra energy to the rest and recover part. It's kinda like bears and hibernation. lol.
Practices that help support the parasympathetic nervous system:
deep breathing
meditation
hiking or spending time in the forest/woods
sex
time with good friends and family (community)
Chiropractic care is also a significant contributor to enhancing the parasympathetic nervous system. Studies have shown that it not only improves parasympathetic activity but it also increases higher brain function. Yup.
Now it's time to push
Although we do not ever recommend people push into sympathetic ("fight or flight") uncontrollably, it does have it's value in the area of positive stressors. Eustress is a term denoting stress that has a positive effect on our minds and bodies.
Studies show that short term stressors can have very positive effects via a mechanism called HORMESIS.
Here is quick chart to show you some of it's positive effects on hormones:
So what does this mean for normal humans?
Some people like to use the philosophy of "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger." I disagree. Sometimes what doesn't kill you puts you on a path to ruin.
My opinion is pushing means, doing a little extra.
Exercise is the best example- if you walk 20 minutes a day you can just increase the time to 30-40 minutes OR you can increase the intensity by increasing your pace.
Same 20 minutes, just faster.
Healthy eating- just add something you know will help your overall health- like a healthy fat= avocados or organic eggs.
Don't worry about what to take out.
Focus on adding something good.
As for stress training or neurologic training- you can do a simple stress breathing exercise.
Take a deep breath- blow it all out- and hold your breath for as long as you can.
When you feel that overwhelming desire to take a breath, pause... make a conscious decision to slowly breath so that your brain and nervous system learn that you have conscious control during times of stress and you can stay calm.
Yup. It really works.
We talk a lot about the negative impacts of stress. But properly utilized, stress can be a powerful tool to enhance our overall health via hormesis.
So this spring, make the decision to push and grow.
Ideal supplements to support the push:
references