{"id":599,"date":"2026-05-18T13:58:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T13:58:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/justbethejourney.com\/?p=599"},"modified":"2026-05-19T14:31:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T14:31:16","slug":"four-holistic-ways-to-four-holistic-approaches-to-calm-your-nervous-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/justbethejourney.com\/?p=599","title":{"rendered":"Four Holistic Approaches to Calm Your Nervous System"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Are you feeling anxious about an upcoming transition, or just carrying a steady hum of everyday overwhelm? You\u2019re not alone. When life speeds up or shifts unexpectedly, your nervous system often takes the hit first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The good news: there are simple, grounded ways to support your body and gently guide yourself back to a place of calm. Here are four holistic approaches we come back to again and again, because they\u2019re accessible, nourishing, and deeply effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Art Therapy: Let Expression Lead<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Art therapy, sometimes called expressive therapy, is less about creating something \u201cgood\u201d and more about allowing something true to move through you. It gives your emotions a place to land when words feel out of reach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This can look like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Watercolor painting without a plan<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Coloring in an adult coloring book<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sketching how your day <em>felt<\/em>, not how it looked<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Creating something symbolic, like a postcard you\u2019ll never send<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There\u2019s no right or wrong here. Just the quiet rhythm of hand to paper, stitch to stitch, breath to brushstroke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We often see people return to simple, tactile crafts (knitting, crocheting, even doodling) as a way to reconnect with themselves. These practices can be especially supportive for those who find it difficult to process emotions verbally, including children, neurodivergent individuals, or anyone moving through a heavy season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes, calm begins with creating space for what\u2019s inside you to be seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Forest Bathing: Return to What Grounds You<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There\u2019s something quietly powerful about stepping into nature; something that asks nothing of you, yet gives so much in return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Forest bathing (or simply spending intentional time in nature) is a gentle but effective way to reset your nervous system. It invites you to slow down, breathe deeper, and reconnect, not just with the world around you, but with yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Time in nature can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Lower blood pressure<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Support immune function<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Help the body recover from stress, illness, and emotional strain<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But beyond the measurable benefits, there\u2019s something harder to quantify: a sense of remembering. Of coming back to your own natural rhythm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even a short walk outside, sitting under a tree, or noticing the way light moves through leaves can begin to restore a sense of balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Grounding: Reconnect with the Earth<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Grounding, also known as earthing, is one of the simplest ways to support your nervous system. It\u2019s exactly what it sounds like: direct contact with the earth, often through bare feet on grass, sand, or soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While it may seem almost too simple, this physical connection can have meaningful effects on the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some of the reported benefits include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Reduced stress response and a shift toward a more relaxed state<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improved sleep and cortisol balance<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Increased heart rate variability (a key marker of resilience)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Decreased pain and inflammation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Think of grounding as a reset button, an opportunity to discharge some of the accumulated stress your body has been holding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And it doesn\u2019t require anything fancy. Just a few quiet minutes outside, feet on the earth, noticing your breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Community Connection: We\u2019re Not Meant to Do This Alone<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the most overlooked, but deeply impactful, ways to regulate your nervous system is through connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Being part of a supportive, like-minded community offers more than companionship. It creates a sense of safety, belonging, and shared experience. Things your nervous system actively seeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This might look like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Joining a yoga or movement class<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Attending a creative workshop<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gathering with friends for conversation or music<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Simply reaching out to a support group (i.e. Grief group, Parenting group, Caregiving group) and being honest about how you\u2019re feeling<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Community reminds you that you don\u2019t have to carry everything on your own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And that reminder, in itself, can be profoundly calming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Gentle Closing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Calming your nervous system doesn\u2019t have to be complicated or clinical. Often, it\u2019s found in the quiet, consistent choices you make to care for yourself, picking up a paintbrush, stepping outside, feeling the ground beneath your feet, or sitting with someone who sees you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These practices aren\u2019t about fixing you. They\u2019re about supporting you as you move through change, uncertainty, and growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Try one. Stay curious. Notice what shifts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And remember: calm isn\u2019t something you have to chase, it\u2019s something you can return to, again and again.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Are you feeling anxious about an upcoming transition, or just carrying a steady hum of everyday overwhelm? You\u2019re not alone. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":558,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_surecart_dashboard_logo_width":"180px","_surecart_dashboard_show_logo":true,"_surecart_dashboard_navigation_orders":true,"_surecart_dashboard_navigation_invoices":true,"_surecart_dashboard_navigation_subscriptions":true,"_surecart_dashboard_navigation_downloads":true,"_surecart_dashboard_navigation_billing":true,"_surecart_dashboard_navigation_account":true,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-599","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-authentic-being"],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/justbethejourney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/forest-trees-jfcviyfycus.jpeg",1080,719,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/justbethejourney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/forest-trees-jfcviyfycus-150x150.jpeg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/justbethejourney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/forest-trees-jfcviyfycus-300x200.jpeg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/justbethejourney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/forest-trees-jfcviyfycus-768x511.jpeg",768,511,true],"large":["https:\/\/justbethejourney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/forest-trees-jfcviyfycus-1024x682.jpeg",1024,682,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/justbethejourney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/forest-trees-jfcviyfycus.jpeg",1080,719,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/justbethejourney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/forest-trees-jfcviyfycus.jpeg",1080,719,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Just Be The Journey","author_link":"https:\/\/justbethejourney.com\/?author=4"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Are you feeling anxious about an upcoming transition, or just carrying a steady hum of everyday overwhelm? You\u2019re not alone. [&hellip;]","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/justbethejourney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/599","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/justbethejourney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/justbethejourney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/justbethejourney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/justbethejourney.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=599"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/justbethejourney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/599\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":623,"href":"https:\/\/justbethejourney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/599\/revisions\/623"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/justbethejourney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/558"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/justbethejourney.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=599"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/justbethejourney.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=599"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/justbethejourney.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=599"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}