Week 2 focuses on removing common habits that are most detrimental to nervous system health.
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CO-CEO, NEUROFIT
1 MINUTE READ
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UPDATED MAY 17, 2023
CLEARING HARMFUL HABITS
Last week showed how effective and nourishing embodiment practices can be for the nervous system. This week builds on that foundation by removing some of the habits that detract from proper nervous system health. We outline each of these below.
AVOID EATING LATE
Eating within 3 hours of bed places undue strain on the nervous system. The majority of nervous system recovery takes place during sleep. By avoiding eating close to bed, you’ll allow your nervous system to properly recover, instead of diverting resources and attention towards digestion. NeuroFit members who prioritize avoiding late-night eating report 6% more balanced check-ins.
AVOID ALCOHOL & SUBSTANCES
Substances like alcohol (depressants) and caffeine (stimulants) also place undue strain on the nervous system. They impair the nervous system’s ability to properly recover and/or transition to a proper recovery state. Avoiding them leads to feeling noticeably more refreshed and focused as the nervous system re-balances itself.
AVOID ONLINE STRESS
Another major source of unnecessary stress on the nervous system is online content. The nervous system has not evolved to discern between what it sees online and in person - so removing triggering or activating content will help it to restore a proper resting baseline. Members who prioritize avoiding online stress report 22% more balanced check-ins.
AVOID SOCIAL FATIGUE
One other source of stress is our interactions with other people. The emotional contagion effect is widely documented, and shows that we automatically absorb the emotions and beliefs about the world from those we surround ourselves with. An immediate way to reduce stress, then, is to reduce the time spent with those who we feel most stressed around. Members who prioritize avoiding social fatigue report 14% more balanced check-ins and 10% higher HRV.
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.
Discernment is the practice of avoiding that which adds unnecessary strain to the nervous system to ensure proper balance. With NeuroFit this includes avoiding online stress, alcohol and substances, eating within 3 hours of bedtime, and social fatigue.
Learn about the nervous system and relieve stress at the source with NeuroFit - available for iOS and Android.
Dysregulation is when the nervous system stops functioning properly and perceives events as stressful or overwhelming due to high allostatic load (baseline stress level). This happens when its baseline has moved significantly away from the default ventral vagal state, often due to chronic stress, trauma, poor sleep, and poor diet. This brings about a variety of problems, including anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and even autoimmune disease.
Learn about the nervous system and relieve stress at the source with NeuroFit - available for iOS and Android.
Emotional contagion is the nervous system's automatic absorption of the emotions of other people. In these cases, the emotions are not one's own, but left unchecked, this can still lead to dysregulation.
Learn about the nervous system and relieve stress at the source with NeuroFit - available for iOS and Android.