30 unconventional ways I regulate my nervous system (this isn’t your typical list)

Simple, real-life shifts that help me feel calm, present and are built into my day-to-day so I’m not constantly overwhelmed or running on empty

I feel like nervous system regulation is being talked about a lot lately and for good reason. As a collective, I think we are all feeling that the pendulum of the boss babe, hustle culture era has swung too far and we are all craving a more slow paced lifestyle.

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I actually wrote a whole post on why so many high-achieving women are baking bread and choosing a slower life so if you’re curious about this shift, you can read more about it in my post.

Honestly, I just feel like our bodies are overstimulated and burnt out from operating in fight or flight mode for so long.

As a millennial mom, I’ve personally felt this shift happen in my own life. Never before have we been more overstimulated throughout the day – whether that’s through social media, the expectation to be “on” all the time, working full time (and sometimes multiple jobs), managing the family, maintaining the house, clocking the mental load, keeping up with a social life, staying active and healthy, being bombarded with the news and trying to think of yet another meal to make for dinner – it’s too much.

We are operating at high-speed the majority of our day giving ourselves very little (if any) time to relax, unwind and decompress. And because of that, our threshold for what we can tolerate is actually pretty high. We don’t even realize we are stressed or that our nervous systems are shot until it’s too late (and an inevitable crash out happens).

So as a collective, you can see the shift. Women are craving slow living, getting off their phones, shifting to an analog lifestyle. They are giving up the CEO role, jumping off the corporate ladder climb and staying home with their babies. They are baking bread, creating homesteads and finding ways to work with their hands. And most importantly, they are tuning into their wellbeing.

Wellness has become a hot trend and it’s a trend we can all get on board with. We want to understand our sleep data. We want to regulate our cycles and fix our hormones. We are prioritizing whole foods and energy through food. And most importantly, we are focused on regulating our nervous system.

So what is nervous system regulation?

Nervous system regulation is your body’s ability to feel calm, safe, and steady, even when life feels busy or stressful. It doesn’t mean you’re relaxed all the time, it means you can handle things without becoming overwhelmed and can return to a grounded, clear state after stress. When you’re regulated, you feel present, in control, and able to respond to situations instead of reacting from anxiety, pressure, or shutdown.

Our nervous system is constantly asking 3 things:

1. Am I safe?

2. Am I overwhelmed?

3. Do I have control over my environment?

When your nervous system isn’t regulated, it can show up in different ways:

• Constantly feeling on edge, anxious, or overwhelmed

• Easily triggered or reacting strongly to small things

• Racing thoughts, overthinking, or trouble making decisions

• Feeling behind, rushed, or like you’re always trying to catch up

• Snapping at others, shutting down, or avoiding responsibilities

• Fluctuating between burnout (exhausted, unmotivated) and feeling wired or restless

• Difficulty focusing or staying present

• Operating from pressure, urgency, or survival mode instead of calm and clarity

I think when people hear “nervous system regulation,” they immediately think breathwork or meditation but it’s actually so much more than that.

It’s how your day is structured, what you allow in, and what you remove.

It’s the level of noise and stimulation you’re exposed to, how many decisions you have to make, how often you feel rushed or overwhelmed, and whether your life actually gives you space to slow down.

It’s the systems you have in place, the boundaries you set, the way you move through your day and how supported you feel in it.

The small things you do consistently matter just as much (if not more) than the one-off practices because they’re what your nervous system is experiencing all day, every day.

Over the last few years, I’ve really worked to regulate my nervous system and now that I’m 2 years postpartum, I am focused on this now more than ever. So I wanted to share ways that I regulate my nervous system and how I’ve designed my life in a way that allows me to slow down and be present in my days.

30 unconventional ways I regulate my nervous system (this isn’t your typical list)

1. I call my bedroom my decompression tank. When I’m ready to wind down, I give my husband the monitor, I go into my room, close the door, turn on my red light, put the heating pad on my bed, lights off, and I just watch a vlog and let myself fully decompress from the day.

2. I try every day to get a sunshine break. I literally go outside, stand in the sun, face up towards it, close my eyes and just feel the heat on my body. It sounds simple but it resets me so much.

3. My husband and I have very clear, defined roles in our house. We both know exactly what we’re responsible for with the house and the girls, so there’s no second guessing or mental load of “who’s doing what,” which eliminates so much unnecessary tension.

4. My notifications are turned off 24/7. The only way I see something is if I physically go into the app. I don’t want my attention constantly pulled or to feel like something is waiting for me.

5. My phone is on DND pretty much all day outside of a few hours. It helps me stay present in what I’m doing and keeps my brain from being pulled in a million directions.

6. I use Brick (linked a code if you want 10% off) to block social apps from 9pm–9am. I physically have to go to my fridge to unblock it, so it creates friction and stops me from mindlessly scrolling before bed or first thing in the morning.

7. I pull oracle cards almost every morning. I’ll think about what I’m seeking guidance on and just sit with it. It forces me to be present and actually listen to my thoughts.

8. I listen to daily Activations (linked a code for 25% off) which are guided visualizations with cinematic music. It helps me feel and embody my future self instead of just thinking about her.

9. I’ve really curated my inner circle. I don’t do surface-level relationships anymore. If I’m giving you my time and energy, it’s because I feel safe being myself around you.

10. I avoid multitasking, especially with my daughters. I never want them to look up and see me distracted or on my phone. I try to be fully present with them.

11. We do “rinse and repeat” meals. We rotate the same 7–9 dinners every week so I don’t have to think about groceries or meals. It removes so much mental load.

12. I give each day of the week a theme (admin, creative, calls, etc.) so I’m not constantly switching gears and forcing my brain to recalibrate.

13. I use a daily planner every morning. I map out my top 3 tasks, any meetings, and anything I need to follow up on. It gets everything out of my head and onto paper for that day so I’m not worried about missing something.
    

14. I do laundry almost every day, but I have a system. Wash in the morning, dryer in the afternoon, fold at night or the next day. Nothing piles up and it never feels overwhelming. You will not catch a hamper full of clothes in my house.

15. I try to walk outside daily with nothing in my ears. No podcast, no music. Just me, the sounds, the environment, and being present. We are so stimulated all day long, sometimes it’s nice to just unplug.

16. I listen to 432hz before bed for about 20 minutes. It calms my mind and helps me fall into a deeper sleep.

17. When I’m working, I either work in silence or with lofi music. I don’t want to be overstimulated by words or constant input.

18. On Mondays, I focus on “close the loop” tasks. All the little lingering things that have been sitting in my brain — I get them done so they don’t carry into the week. Sometimes it can take up to an hour, but that’s okay. I’d rather get them done then have them added to an ever growing list.

19. When opportunities come up, I don’t answer right away. As a Projector, I really try to sit with decisions and check in with how they feel before saying yes.

20. I lean heavily into my Human Design. I constantly ask myself if what I’m doing actually feels aligned with how I’m meant to operate based off my design so that way I’m doing things from a place of alignment.

21. I’m very open with my husband. We talk about everything. I don’t bottle things up — having a safe space to process is everything.

22. I use affirmations regularly. I’m very intentional about the thoughts I’m reinforcing and I try to focus on “what if it works out” vs “what if it doesn’t”. I definitely have a cup half full vibe which to some might be annoying, but you get to choose your thoughts so might as well choose the good ones.

23. I purge constantly. I don’t hold onto things and I’m not someone who feels tied to things emotionally. If it doesn’t serve me, it’s gone. Making space physically makes space mentally and creates space for new opportunities.

24. I try to keep things minimal — skincare, makeup, clothes, decor. Less just feels better for me. And again, I don’t want everything taking up so much physical or mental space in my life.

25. I do a nightly reset every single night. Dishes done, toys away, counters wiped, everything in its place. I cannot go to bed in a messy space. And it allows me to go to bed with a clear mind knowing that I’ll be waking up to a clean space.

26. I have a Future Self Journal. I’m always writing in the present tense about something I’m working towards in the future. I’m tapping into how having that thing, or achieving that milestone would make me feel so my body knows it’s safe and good to feel that.

27. I don’t get attached to things. I’m not someone who feels like they have to hang on to things, people, jobs, opportunities if they no longer fit. I truly believe everything in our life comes to us when we need it and when those chapters end, it’s time to move on.

28. I have a very intentional morning routine – I wake up an hour before my kids, I pour a warm lemon water, I sit under a cozy blanket on the couch, I read, I do an Activation, I Future Self journal and then I get ready for my day. I take care of myself first before pouring into my family.

29. I get ready for the day – I do my hair, usually put on light makeup, throw on an outfit or just a comfy set, but I intentionally put myself together because it makes me feel better.

30. If I am having an off day, I don’t ruminate on the “why” or the source of the bad day but I do lean into self-care and things that make me feel good – having a bath, time alone, reading, an Activation, going outside.

All of these things might look small or random, but they all do the same thing — they create a life that feels safe, calm and supportive for my nervous system.

Less noise. Less pressure. Less rushing. More space. More intention. More control over how I move through my day.

I’m not trying to “fix” my nervous system — I’m just creating an environment where it doesn’t feel constantly overwhelmed.

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A little note 🤍

This is actually the kind of work I do with women 1:1 as a Life Design Coach.

We take what feels overwhelming or “off” in your life and break it down into simple, doable shifts — so you can create more space, clarity and ease in your day-to-day and design a life you actually love. If you’re curious, I offer free clarity calls.

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I hope this helped and gave you some ideas on ways you can regulate your nervous system, as always…

Sending you so much love,

Meg xo

About the Author:

I’m Megan — a writer, twin mom and Life Design Coach, documenting what it looks like to design a life that feels calm, intentional and fulfilling in a very full season. I write about identity shifts, giving yourself permission to want something different and designing a life you actually want.

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✨ If you’re feeling stuck, unclear, or like you’ve outgrown your current life, this is for you. Book a clarity call and we’ll map out what you actually want and the next steps to start building it a life you actually love.

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