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Have you ever wondered why some days you feel calm and balanced, while on others, stress takes over, leaving you feeling frazzled and overwhelmed? The answer lies in your nervous system.
As the Co-CEO of NEUROFIT, I'm dedicated to helping people understand and optimize their nervous system health.
Let's explore what nervous system fitness is and how it can transform your life.
Nervous system fitness refers to the overall flexibility, balance, and resilience of your nervous system. It's the ability to adapt to changes in your environment and respond to life's demands.
Think of it as a measure of how well your nervous system can manage stress and maintain equilibrium.
When your nervous system is fit, you're better equipped to handle stress, recover quickly from setbacks, and maintain emotional and physical well-being. On the other hand, a dysregulated nervous system can lead to chronic stress, anxiety, and many other health issues.
Chronic stress builds up in the nervous system, leading to mental and physical health challenges.
This buildup of stress then has its side effects. People often find that they end up spending much more time in the bottom three states on the NEUROFIT Ring:
The NEUROFIT Ring shows the six possible nervous system states, and the transitions between them.
A dysregulated nervous system can manifest in various ways. Here are some common signs and symptoms:
Chronic stress and anxiety
Difficulty sleeping or insomnia
Digestive issues like bloating and indigestion
Emotional volatility or mood swings
Chronic fatigue or tiredness
Frequent infections or immune system issues
Brain fog or trouble concentrating
Physical aches and pains
These symptoms can be challenging and affect many different aspects of your life, from career to relationships.
But the good news is, recognizing these signs is the first step towards improving your nervous system fitness.
Several factors can contribute to nervous system dysregulation:
Chronic Stress: Prolonged exposure to stress can overload your nervous system, leading to dysregulation. According to the Mayo Clinic, chronic stress can impact almost every major system in your body.
Trauma: Past traumatic experiences can leave lasting imprints on your nervous system, affecting its ability to function optimally.
Poor Lifestyle Habits: Lack of exercise, poor diet, and inadequate sleep can all contribute to a dysregulated nervous system.
Improving your nervous system fitness isn't complicated. Here are a few practical ways to get started:
Engaging in regular physical activity is a powerful way to support your nervous system. Aim for at least 10 minutes of exercise daily to break a sweat. Exercise releases endorphins and serotonin, which can help reduce stress and improve your mood.
Our NEUROFIT App data confirms this - members who prioritize regular exercise report a 22% increase in HRV!
Add at least 10 minutes of stillness into your daily routine. This can include meditation, deep breathing exercises, or even just sitting quietly. Stillness helps calm your nervous system and improve your resistance to stress.
Engage in activities that bring you joy and connection. Join a casual sports team, take an art class with friends, or go on an adventure with a loved one.
Avoid blue light before bed, limit caffeine and alcohol, and create a relaxing environment in your bedroom. A good night's sleep is essential for nervous system recovery.
Avoid eating close to bedtime to give your body time to digest before sleep. This ensures that your nervous system can focus on repairing itself overnight, leading to more restful sleep.
Reduce your consumption of alcohol and other substances that can disrupt your nervous system's balance - as chronic use can cause both physical and chemical damage to your nervous system.
The NEUROFIT App's smart exercise library matches you with exercises that relieve stress within three minutes.
These fast-acting body-based exercises are designed to help your nervous system reset and shift out of stressful states within just a few minutes. Try Body Tapping, Cannon, or Tree Shaking next time you're feeling activated:
Nervous system fitness is the measure of your nervous system's flexibility, balance, and resilience. It reflects your ability to adapt to changes and manage stress effectively.
Common signs of a dysregulated nervous system include chronic stress, anxiety, insomnia, digestive issues, mood swings, chronic fatigue, frequent infections, brain fog, and physical aches and pains.
The NEUROFIT app provides daily check-ins, biometric measurements, on-demand exercises, and personalized insights to help you regulate, balance, and optimize your nervous system. By incorporating these practices into your daily routine, you can significantly improve your nervous system fitness and overall well-being.
The NEUROFIT App's camera-based HRV tech lets you measure your Heart Rate, HRV and more without needing a wearable.
In my journey with NEUROFIT, our community has seen firsthand the transformative power of nervous system fitness. Our average active app member reports 54% less stress after just one week.
By focusing on nervous system fitness, you can access a more balanced, resilient, and joyful you.
