Practicing daily play supports greater creativity, emotional balance, and resistance to fight-or-flight.
•
CO-CEO, NEUROFIT
1 MINUTE READ
•
OCT 4, 2023
PLAY: THE BODY'S NATURAL STRESS ANTIDOTE
When it comes to managing stress, play may seem like the last thing that would help. But research shows that play can actually help us become more resistant to the fight-or-flight response, tap into creativity, and feel more safe and balanced around others.
BALANCING BETWEEN VENTRAL VAGAL AND SYMPATHETIC
Through regular Play, or balancing between Ventral Vagal and Sympathetic, our nervous system learns to become more nuanced and resistant to the fight or flight response.
Instead of dropping straight from rest-and-digest into a stress response, play teaches the nervous system to stay balanced, open, and creative, even when we may perceive stress.
INCREASING ACCESS TO CREATIVITY
Play also helps us tap into creativity. Creativity allows us to see the world in new ways and find new solutions to problems, and can also help reinforce more positive and hopeful feelings when a solution always seems to be available.
PLAY: IMPROVED EMOTIONAL REGULATION
Finally, play teaches us improved emotional regulation. When we feel safe and secure, we are less likely to experience negative emotions like fear and anxiety. We can also learn to express our emotions in more positive ways. All of these benefits make Play a key tool for managing stress and supporting a balanced nervous system.
80% of the nerves in the human body are 'afferent' - running from body to brain. Under stress, when the nervous system and thinking brain tell different stories, the nervous system almost always wins.
NEUROFIT is a nervous system trainer. Through daily check-ins, biometric measurements via your phone's camera, and tailored exercises, it removes stress at the source. Available for iOS & Android.
Nervous System Fitness is the degree of flexibility and resilience of one's nervous system. The name implies that the nervous system can be trained and strengthened, much like physical fitness.
Learn about the nervous system and relieve stress at the source with NEUROFIT - available for iOS and Android.