10 Things Helping Me Heal My Nervous System (What Is Actually Working π)
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Welcome back to my little corner of the internet π
Okay so I want to talk about something today that I think is really important.
And that is:
π healing your nervous system.
Because honestly?
I don't think people talk about this enough.
Not in a real, honest, practical way.
Not the kind where someone just tells you to breathe deeply and meditate for 20 minutes lol ππ
But the kind where you actually learn what helps YOUR body feel safe again.
And honestly?
After years of stress, grief, burnout, survival mode, and caregivingβ¦
β¦my nervous system needed a LOT of love.
So here are the 10 things that are genuinely helping me heal my nervous system β the real, honest, actually working ones π
πΆββοΈ 1. Walking 10K Steps Daily β With a Weighted Vest
This one has honestly been the most transformative thing on this entire list.
Because walking every single day β and now walking with a weighted vest β has become my most powerful nervous system reset tool.
Movement helps your nervous system process and release:
stored stress and tension
anxiety that lives in your body
emotions that have nowhere else to go
and the residue of survival mode that quietly accumulates over time
And adding the weighted vest?
That took it to a whole new level.
Because the added resistance gives your body something to work against β and there is something incredibly grounding and calming about that feeling.
And honestly?
I think walking might be the most underrated nervous system healing tool there is π
πΆ WalkingPad P1 Folding Treadmill
The foundation of my entire nervous system healing routine π Foldable, quiet, and perfect for daily walks at home. If walking has been calling your name β this is where to start.
* Amazon affiliate link β supports this journey at no extra cost to you π
π 2. Simple Repeatable Routines That Are Essentially Mindless
This one surprised me honestly.
Because I used to think that healing required something complicated.
Something elaborate.
Something perfectly structured.
Something that required a lot of mental energy to maintain.
But what I discovered is actually the opposite.
My nervous system heals best through:
π simple. repeatable. mindless routines.
Routines so easy that I don't have to think about them.
Routines so familiar that my body just knows what comes next.
Routines that require zero decision making.
Because decision fatigue is real.
And when your nervous system is already overwhelmedβ¦
β¦the last thing it needs is more decisions to make.
Simple routines create:
π predictability.
π safety.
π and a nervous system that finally gets to exhale π
βοΈ 3. Blogging, Writing and Journaling
Honestly?
Creatively expressing myself through writing has been one of the most healing things I have ever done for my nervous system.
Because writing gives me a place to:
process my emotions safely
get overwhelming thoughts out of my head and onto paper
hold myself accountable publicly
and express the parts of myself I was keeping hidden for too long
And blogging specifically?
Blogging gave me a way to share my healing journey without feeling fully exposed.
And honestly?
Every time I write β whether it is a blog post, a journal entry, or just a few lines on a sticky note β
β¦my nervous system gets a little bit lighter π
π΄ 4. Magnesium Supplement for Sleep
This one is a game changer and I genuinely recommend it to everyone lol ππ
Taking a magnesium supplement before bed has made such a noticeable difference in:
the quality of my sleep
how quickly I fall asleep
how calm my mind feels at night
and how rested I actually feel when I wake up
Because here is the thing about magnesium that most people don't know:
π magnesium is literally a natural relaxant for your nervous system.
It helps your muscles relax.
It helps your mind slow down.
It supports deeper more restorative sleep.
And when your nervous system is in healing mode?
Deep quality sleep is not optional.
It is:
π essential π
π Magnesium Glycinate Supplement
One of the most impactful additions to my nervous system healing routine π Magnesium glycinate is known for being gentle on the stomach and highly absorbable β making it one of the best forms of magnesium for sleep and nervous system support.
* Amazon affiliate link β supports this journey at no extra cost to you π
π 5. The Stella App for Future Audio Scripting
Okay I am genuinely obsessed with this one lol ππ
The Stella app has become such a beautiful part of my daily nervous system healing routine.
I use it for:
future audio scripting β listening to scripts written as my future self Amy
the manifestation board β which I absolutely love yay! π
And honestly?
There is something so deeply calming and hopeful about:
π hearing yourself describe the life you are becoming.
Because hope is medicine for a dysregulated nervous system.
And the Stella app delivers it in the most beautiful and accessible way π
π 6. Affirmations β Spoken, Written and Repeated in My Mind
This one is something I practice in three different ways:
π repeating them aloud β sometimes loudly in the car lol ππ
π writing them out on index cards and placing them in Amy's Mind Garden
π repeating them silently in my mind throughout the day
And honestly?
Affirmations work on the nervous system because they slowly begin to:
replace fear based thoughts with safety based thoughts
shift your internal narrative from survival to possibility
and rewire the stories your nervous system has been running on for years
Because your nervous system believes what you tell it most often.
So telling it:
π "I am safe."
π "Everything I touch is gold."
π "My mind is worth millions."
β¦over and over again?
Slowly starts to become the truth your body lives from π
π» 7. Planting Sunflowers and Growing Plants
This one might sound simple.
But honestly?
Planting sunflowers and tending to growing things has been one of the most grounding and healing things I have done for my nervous system.
Because nurturing something living teaches your nervous system:
patience
presence
the beauty of slow growth
and the quiet joy of watching something bloom π
And honestly?
Every time I check on my sunflowersβ¦
β¦something in my body just exhales.
Like:
π life is still beautiful.
π things are still growing.
π I am still growing too. π
π 8. Ashwagandha and Reishi Mushroom Soothing Drink
This one has been such a beautiful addition to my evening routine π
On days where I feel extra stressed out or overwhelmedβ¦
β¦I make myself a warm ashwagandha and reishi mushroom soothing drink to help:
calm my mind down
relax my body
support deeper sleep
and bring my nervous system back to a gentler baseline
Because both ashwagandha and reishi mushroom are adaptogens β meaning they help your body adapt to and manage stress more effectively.
And honestly?
On the really hard days?
That warm drink feels like:
π a hug from the inside π
π Reishi Mushroom and Ashwagandha Supplement
A genuinely calming addition to any nervous system healing routine π Adaptogens like reishi and ashwagandha help support your body's stress response β especially helpful on the harder caregiving days when everything feels like too much.
* Amazon affiliate link β supports this journey at no extra cost to you π
πͺ 9. Lifting Weights β It Slows Me Down and Calms My Mind
Okay this one genuinely surprised me.
Because I never expected weight lifting to be a nervous system healing tool.
But honestly?
Lifting weights does something really interesting to my mind and body.
It:
π slows me down.
π calms my mind.
π brings me into the present moment.
Because when you are lifting weights you cannot be anywhere else but here.
You cannot spiral into anxiety about the future.
You cannot ruminate about the past.
You just have to be present with the weight in your hands.
And that forced presence?
Is honestly one of the most effective forms of nervous system regulation I have found.
Plus it builds muscle π Which is just a beautiful bonus lol ππ
π΄ 10. Rest and Naps Throughout the Day β Without Guilt
And last but honestly?
Maybe the most important one on this entire list.
π Rest. Without guilt. Without beating myself up.
Because for a long time I genuinely believed that resting was lazy.
That I had to earn my rest.
That I should be doing more.
That napping in the middle of the day was something to be ashamed of.
But here is what I know now:
π rest is not laziness.
π rest is nervous system repair.
It is your body doing exactly what it needs to do to heal.
It is your nervous system finally getting the downtime it has been desperately craving.
And it is you finally giving yourself permission to be human.
π "Rest is not something you earn. It is something your nervous system needs. Give it freely and watch everything else start to shift."
π Final Thoughts on Healing Your Nervous System
If there is one thing I want you to take away from this postβ¦
It is this:
π healing your nervous system does not have to be complicated.
It can look like:
a daily walk
a magnesium supplement before bed
a warm ashwagandha drink on a hard day
a sunflower seed planted with hope
an affirmation whispered in your car
a nap taken without guilt
and a simple routine that asks nothing more of you than to just show up
Because honestly?
Your nervous system does not need perfection.
It just needs:
π consistency.
π gentleness.
π and you choosing to show up for it every single day π