Note: This blog post is one tiny tip of the iceberg to a plethora of reasons why we need to take action for our health. In this post, we focus on the nervous system, but healthy work/life balance affects all parts of our being from our brains to our emotions.
We live in a world so fast-paced and oftentimes we only slow down when we no longer have a choice. How is that sustainable? Well it’s not. We overwork our bodies and minds until they talk back to us in ways that may not be so pleasant, and when that happens we tend to ignore the unpleasant until we cannot any longer. Chronic stress can lead to many different diseases and injuries if we don’t pay attention and make healthy changes now. This post is for those of you that resonate with a go go go lifestyle and are looking to make a change for the betterment of your health and well-being.
Our ambition isn’t the problem, it’s that most of us have no idea how to balance our bodies and minds so that they are working at their best and healthiest. I also think it’s important for me to share that I am not putting myself up on a pedestal in any way, I actually struggle with this exact same thing, and so I’ve committed to learning more and sharing what I know. Once you have this knowledge, there’s an essence of self-discipline in actually implementing it into your days. While not always easy, I’ll share with you a tool I’ve created to help you along the way!
So let’s talk nervous system 101
The Sympathetic Nervous System is our fight or flight response, and it is our body’s go-to when we are stressed and anxious. This system kicks us into alertness when we perceive danger and need to run away from whatever feels threatening. This was very helpful when our ancestors needed to run away from hungry animals in the past, however, in present day, our large amounts of stress are contributing to the activation of this system pretty consistently even when there’s no life/death situation. When this system becomes active, our blood pressure rises, our heart rate increases, and our cortisol levels rise as the body prioritizes the systems that will get us to safety fast.
The Parasympathetic Nervous System is our rest & digest response, and it is our body’s way of taking it down a notch to relax and restore. When this system is active, our heart rate slows down, our blood pressure lowers, and our digestion kicks in. In my classes, I love to talk about how when we slow down, we can digest our food as well as our daily emotions and experiences. More on this in a future post!
The majority of us are living mostly in the sympathetic nervous system, and that imbalance is something to be aware of and work to re-balance. If you've ever been to any of my public classes, you know that we always end with restorative yoga, and there's a reason for that. WE NEED IT! While it may not be our go-to practice, it balances our nervous system with its slower pace that we so desperately need to counteract our busy lives.
Why is this important?
We store our life’s stressors and emotions in our bodies, and if left unchecked, we know this can manifest in one’s physical and mental health. What may arise as tension in the body, has the potential to turn into an injury or more serious ailment in the future. I’ve been most recently recovering from an upper back/shoulder injury. I remember the week it happened all too well, and guess what I’m still healing from it months later. Another strange manifestation was when I got multiple nose bleeds that lasted for a few hours in the middle of the night. Yes, I did go to the doctor and after running tests, they found nothing wrong.
The truth is we are so damn disconnected from our bodies, and we keep ignoring that for the pursuit of money, success, a sense of self-worth from our external world. Taking it too far will not get us there in one piece! No amount of money, fame and success will bring us happiness, yet somehow we’re all pushing like it’s the only thing that matters. That which makes us whole will not present itself through this external pushing and pulling. Self-worth is a journey that unfolds from within, when we actually take the time and space to cultivate it. Any happiness derived from our external circumstances is limited to situations that tend to be quite fleeting. So it’s time for us to commit to being in our bodies and healing from exactly where we are, not where we feel like we should be.
The beautiful thing is that it is absolutely in our power to find that balance, we just have to want it bad enough to commit to doing the work (or maybe I should say doing very little).
How can we balance?
Good news is there are plenty of ways to activate our parasympathetic nervous system and help us begin to re-connect to this relationship with ourselves and our necessary time for rest.
Here are some simple and easy ways to get started:
Do NOTHING - Yes I’m serious
Meditation - Your meditation chariot awaits!
Restorative or Yin Yoga with props - Try it for yourself!
Deep & slow breaths in the belly
Soothing & calming essential oils, like Lavender
Take a bath
Take a nap
Lay down and listen to soothing music - Unwind & Restore Playlist
Self massage
I’m here to support you through this journey
The intention behind creating my Working from Home: Yoga & Meditation Series is to help people establish these healthy breaks and boundaries you just read about.
For those that resonate and are open to receiving support, this series will help you balance your workday through short 10-20 minute Yoga and Meditation videos curated for each time of day. From a morning meditation to establish healthy boundaries to an energizing afternoon flow and desk yoga to rejuvenate you throughout the day. We wind down with evening restorative yoga and a sleep meditation that will guide you towards activation of your rest and relax nervous system. This is a good series for anyone who is working from home, taking online classes and/or doing virtual school.
We need to create a healthy and balanced work/life balance if we want preserve our bodies and minds for a long time to come.
It’s not hard, and actually quite enjoyable if you allow yourself to let go. The hardest part is committing to showing up consistently, but a little discipline in the name of self-care goes a long way. I promise, your body and mind will thank you for it :) Balance, Self-Love and Self-Care is our only sustainable option, so let’s start here and evolve together!
Are you a business that cares about your employees’ health?
If you're a business and would like to gift my Working from Home: Yoga & Meditation Series to your employees, please email me directly at hello@cupofkremi.com to discuss purchasing for your team.
I also guide 30-min, 45-min and 1-hour long Working from Home Workshops specifically for the workplace. We dive deep and discuss why this is important, specific tools and techniques to develop a healthy work/life balance, and how mindfulness can help us with this process. Curious? Take a look a what’s included here.