Stay Resilient: Nervous System Tips for A Chaotic World
Today, I’ll share my top tip from 5+ years of clinical experience helping clients build resilience in your nervous system, especially when the world feels chaotic.
In this episode of the Move Nourished podcast, I discuss the common feeling of overwhelm many face when trying to start self-care habits. I provides strategic advice on beginning with small, manageable steps that still create meaningful changes, based on the principle known as the "zone of optimal difficulty." I’ll emphasize high ROI interventions like supplements and herbal formulas, which require less effort but offer significant benefits, to help build the capacity for tackling more challenging health changes. For more detailed guidance, check out CAPACITY, the quick-and-clean self care course for people who care deeply for the world.
Listen on your favourite podcast player:
Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Substack |YouTube
Today’s writing is full of valuable insights on navigating overwhelm and finding strategic ways to initiate positive change in our lives.
**Understanding the Overwhelm**
Many clients express feeling overwhelmed and unsure where to start when it comes to self-care and wellness. They face a paradox: lacking the energy and motivation to engage in behaviors that would ultimately give them more energy and motivation. This cycle can be a significant barrier to initiating change and maintaining consistency. Alyssa emphasizes that this is a common struggle, rooted in a world that often doesn't prioritize work-life balance, rest, or nurturing relationships.
**Breaking the Cycle: Starting Small**
“Start small, but start somewhere to break the cycle of overwhelm”
Alyssa's intention is to provide a strategic starting place to help break out of this cycle. She suggests beginning with small, manageable steps that can still create meaningful change. This concept is known in educational circles as finding your "zone of optimal difficulty" - tasks that challenge but do not overwhelm. The same principle applies to making health changes. By starting small and gradually challenging ourselves, we can build from there.
**Finding Your Zone of Optimal Challenge**
The key is to find interventions that match your current capacity. Alyssa often starts clients with habits that have a high return on investment (ROI). These are changes that require less effort initially but provide significant benefits, helping to build bandwidth for tackling more demanding changes later.
**Supplements and Herbal Formulas**
Supplements and herbal formulas are examples of high ROI interventions. They require minimal effort (like remembering to take them consistently) but offer substantial benefits. For instance, supplements and herbs like magnesium and chamomile can improve sleep and reduce stress, providing more mental and physical space to focus on additional health goals. Alyssa recommends starting with these manageable changes and reassessing after six to eight weeks to consider more labor-intensive steps like altering food habits or increasing physical activity.
“High ROI interventions like supplements and herbal formulas can offer substantial benefits with minimal effort”
**Conclusion and Further Support**
For those seeking more detailed guidance, Alyssa offers a course called CAPACITY, which provides curated supplement recommendations and herbal information to support your nervous system. I hope these tips help you on your journey to a more resilient nervous system. Stay resilient and catch you next time!
