Support Your Nervous System Over the Holidays!

Holidays can be such a magical time.. but it can also present some challenges! Even when you're actively working on your nervous system regulation, being around certain friends and family can be triggering especially when you're feeling a little frazzled.

Here Are Our Favourite Ways to Support the Nervous System Over This Time:

1. Nourish your Nervous System: Yes, it is Christmas and a time to eat, drink and be merry. However.. all the classic Christmas ‘treats’ are laden with sugar, alcohol, artificial colourings and preservatives. Add to this the late nights, and more commitments than normal and you end up with a stressed nervous system. Remember that stress is stress. All stress creates the same physiological response in your body. It doesn’t matter if it is chemical, physical, emotional or biochemical - if you are loading yourself to a point that is outside your window of tolerance, you will experience an overwhelm in your nervous system. Temper the alcohol with water. Balance the sugar with nourishing food. Opt for some early nights or moments of stillness in your day, and do your nervous system work.

2. Get outside: The nervous system loves nature. Take time to ground yourself in nature. Take your shoes off on the grass.. lift your face to the sun.. watch the sunrise.. listen to the birds.. Tune your sensory system into the calming and regulating vibes of natures song and your nervous system will thank you for it.

3. Set Boundaries: I never knew how to set a boundary until I became a mother. Suddenly, I was able to advocate for my children in a way that I could never do for myself. Since doing nervous system work and understanding my own fawn tendencies, it has become easier to create boundaries for myself and my family. We all lead busy lives and you have to get comfortable saying no in order to stay regulated.  One of my favourite things about nervous system work is how we can get aware of what the body is signalling, and listening to the subtle signs that you need to step away, rest, sleep more as well as listening to the signals when you get a full-body YES. Boundary setting is challenging as we are often scared about other peoples reactions. One of my favourite reflective practices is around resentment and boundary setting. “Resentment is the path to boundaries.” When you are feeling unsure about putting up a boundary, answer the following question:  “What must I believe about myself to deny my own needs this way?”
 
Can you reflect upon what is it that has been set in your nervous system that means you feel you have to deny your own wants and needs?

For example:
💭Saying no might mean I can’t handle it and am weak.
💭 Saying no might come across as selfish and make me unloveable
💭 Asking for my own needs to be met is a burden on others
💭 I’m responsible for others feelings.
💭 I’m not worthy of rest.
💭 I would feel guilty saying no.

Know this:
💛 It’s safe to say no and I know I am worthy and loveable.  

Nervous system regulation is all about being conscious.

Part of that conscious living is bringing into conscious awareness our stories and being compassionate as we break down these walls and create new connections and a new state of regulation.

There are no scripts to setting boundaries as it has to be embodied. Do this exercise and let us know any shifts that you get as a result.

If you would like to add to your toolkit over this time, our 21 days to nervous system regulation is your own personal library of 21 different polyvagal tools to regulate your nervous system and start your nervous system healing.

We also have our breath webinar, which is a beautiful way to being conscious breath, rhythm and presence into your life to ground down at any time.

We will be running our next round of Regulated Parents..Calm Kids in early 2025. You can sign up anytime between now and then and get a head start before our first calls together in February 2025.

We hope you have a wonderful, regulated festive season.

Kate & Kimberley