Giving your nervous system the attention it deserves

My over-taxed nervous system was a big driver in why I left my corporate role in 2022. 

(BTW, don’t miss my free masterclass on Feb. 20th. I’ll share the five proven strategies you need to thrive at work while staying true to yourself.)

In late 2022, I was facing more scope and fewer resources for 2023 and my intuition screamed at me that it was time to go – my nervous system needed a major break. 

Now, as I prepare to take my business to the next level, I know I have to care for my nervous system differently. 

This is the next in my ‘build-in-public’ mini-series showing you how I’m using the same tools I use with clients to build the next level of my business - catch-up on previous editions here.

I can’t let my nervous system get to the same state. 

For a while, I thought this meant keeping my nervous system in as gentle a state as possible. 

For the first year plus of my business, I kept my workload manageable, was discerning about commitments and didn’t stretch that far. It wasn’t even conscious, but I was making choices so I wouldn’t overtax my system again. 

The only problem was that I wasn’t satisfied. 

I was inadvertently holding myself back from building the scale of business I wanted because I didn’t want to overextend myself. 

(Perhaps you can relate if you’ve written off C-Suite roles or entrepreneurship as being ‘not for me’ due to the stress or workload). 

But then I realized: 

Your nervous system isn’t meant to stay in rest mode constantly. 

It is just not possible in the modern world. 

Instead, I had to learn how to let my nervous system flex into ‘flight-or-fight’ mode and intentionally shift back into that rest and recovery state. 

So that’s what I’m doing. 

I am paying attention when I shift into “flight-or-fight” mode after days full of back-to-back calls or busy stretches full of early mornings and late nights building new offerings. 

I am being very intentional to build in time to “rest” and recover – long phone-free walks, indulgent reading sessions and good workouts. 

It’s like having an exercise regimen that includes high-intensity spin classes and gentle yoga. 

You need the ying and yang of both to perform your best. 

I can’t emphasize enough how important caring for your nervous system is for your career - both while up-levelling and sustaining your success over time. 

Think about interviewing and onboarding for a new role – your nervous system perceives every interaction as high-stakes - you want to make a good impression - and so floods your system with adrenaline. You’re hyper-alert to make sure you trap for every new detail.  

Or preparing for a C-Suite presentation that your next promotion hinges on - walking into the meeting, you can feel your heart rate spike and breath quicken. You are hyper-attuned to every noise and shift in the room, waiting for tough questions. 

Or in the midst of delivering tough feedback to your direct report - you feel your stomach start to clench and your shoulders edge up to your ears as you listen to her pushback. As you walk out of the meeting, you let out a shaky exhale and can feel the adrenaline coursing through your body. 

This is exactly what is supposed to happen – your nervous system switching into high-gear to help you perform your best. 

But you have to be sure to recover so these spikes don’t burn you out. 

I know it’s not always feasible, but after these peak moments, give yourself time or an activity (i.e., any movement, journaling) to reset back to ‘rest and digest’ so you’re ready for the next big moment. 

Let’s check-in on your nervous system! 

Here are a few prompts to consider:

1. What is the state of my nervous system today?

2. What triggers my “flight-or-fight” response?

3. Which of these triggers can I eliminate or avoid?

4. What activities help me “rest” or recover most effectively?

5. How often am I truly in recovery mode on a daily or weekly basis?

6. What activities do I want to commit to to care for my nervous system?

Invest ten minutes in caring for your nervous system a day and it will pay off tenfold in the future.

If you want more strategies on how to care for your nervous system and yourself more broadly, join my masterclass, “Calm + Solid: 5 Proven Strategies to Thrive at Work While Staying True to Yourself.” 

I’ll walk you through the exact five-part framework you need to make the inner shifts and tangible operating habits to ditch the overthinking, overwhelm and overwork to feel more confident and steady in your capabilities, make time for what matters and deliver great work without overwork. 

Registration opened to the public on Tuesday and 15 seats have already been nabbed. Grab yours today! 

12pm ET | 11am CT | 9am PT

Thursday, February 20th