Reset Your Nervous System

If you're wired and exhausted at the same time...

this one's for you.

Keep your eyes open for now.

Let your eyes wander around the room.

Slowly.

Let them land on something you like.

A plant, maybe,

or the light on a wall.

Turn your head a little to the left...

and then to the right.

Your body is checking that you're safe here.

Let it Now look.

feel what's holding you The up.

chair or the floor, whatever's under you.

Press your feet down, just Feel a little.

the ground push back.

You're here.

Nothing is chasing you right now.

Let's shake some of it loose.

Shake out your hands...

loose wrists, like you're flicking off water.

Lift your shoulders up to your ears...

hold them there...

And drop them.

Let them fall.

One more time.

Up...

squeeze...

And drop.

Open your mouth wide, then let your jaw hang.

Maybe a yawn shows up.

Let it.

Give your legs a little bounce, if you're sitting.

Like you're waiting for a bus.

Animals shake after a It's scare.

how the body lets go of extra charge.

Now the breath.

Breathe in through your nose for a count of And four.

out through your slow...

mouth,

for six or seven.

Like blowing on hot soup.

In...

two...

three...

four.

Out...

long...

and slow...

all the way to the bottom.

Again.

In through the nose.

And a long, soft sigh out.

You can make a sound if you want.

Keep going on your own.

The out-breath is always the longer one.

Now close your eyes if that feels okay.

Let your whole body get heavy.

You've been on alert for a long time.

For these few minutes, someone else is keeping watch.

Notice anything that feels even a little bit okay.

Warm hands.

A soft spot in your belly.

Stay with that.

Your belly can soften.

Your hands can rest.

Nothing needs you right now.

I'm safe in this moment.

I'm allowed to slow down.

Take one more slow breath in...

And a long breath out.

Open your eyes.

Look around the room again, slowly.

Carry a bit of this slower pace with you into the next hour.