When Stress is on, Your Ability to Heal is Off
You’ve no doubt heard the story of the frog in the boiling pot of water, right?
The one where the frog ends up croaking it “out of no where” because it doesn’t realise just how hot it gets in the pot…over time. This is because of the small incremental rises in temperature over a sustained amount of time, not significant enough to pay attention to. So the frog gets caught out unawares, and when it does want to take action it’s too late.
The frog missed out on one crucial element and that was paying attention to what its body was telling it about the external environment changes. It was TOO BUSY doing heaven knows what.
Sometimes we all need a temperature check-in and often it helps us when that check-up comes from an outside 3rd party who isn’t emotionally attached to us and our outcomes.
If any of the bullet points below trigger you, I would bet my bottom $$ that your autonomic nervous system is being run by its sympathetic branch, and it has systematically unlearnt (like the frog) how to switch off its rest and repair mode (why great sleep is kind of important).
So this blog is for those of you @ work who dabble in:
** burning the candle at both ends (hyper achievers) or,
** consistently put the needs of others before their own (pleasers) or,
** work extra hard to do it all so perfectly, seeking that perfect edge (stickler) or,
** take control in any given situation, because no one else will (controller) or,
** avoiding conflict in order to keep the peace and hope it goes away (avoider) or,
** worry about stuff that hasn’t even happened yet & may never (hyper-vigilant) or,
** finding yourself looking to the next thing, not at peace with the current activity (restless)
** having a PLOM (poor little old me) party more often than not
** performance having to be intense, logical, rational and un-emotional ONLY (hyper-rational)
** way too much judgement of others + self or current circumstances.
In my workshops I always talk of “playing to the strengths of your own body system”.
The two branches of your ANS (autonomic nervous system) include the sympathetic nervous system which serves as the “gas pedal” to mobilise your body and brain into your “fight or flight” response to danger and the parasympathetic nervous system, which serves as the “brake pedal” that initiates a relaxation response to restore reparative function after the threat has passed.
The REST and REPAIR mode (parasympathetic mode) is crucial for sustained workplace performance. It is not lazy, it is not painful and it is 100% natural (yet so few stimulate this mode).
The parasympathetic state is the healing state that brings your nervous system into balance. When your nervous system regulates itself in a healthy way you really start to kick some great goals.
Parasympathetic (REST & REPAIR) activation mode is critical for optimal:
Digestion
Detoxification
Inflammation response
Immunity (fighting pathogens)
Brain health
Depression
Pain relief
Gut health
Stress management
Adrenal health
Energy
Sexual arousal
Weight management
Blood sugar regulation
Insomnia
Trauma release
Anxiety etc etc (so just a wee bit important)
Digestion, detoxification, and immune functions are only turned on when your body is in a parasympathetic state. Simply put: when stress is on, your ability to heal is turned off. There is a constant calibration between the sympathetic and the parasympathetic systems with one or the other playing a more active role at any given time. Ideally we would love to aim for 80% PNS (rest and repair) and 20% SNS (fight and flight)…not the other way around.
Which is why we love our SNOOZE Fest programme, as it aims at down regulating any of those saboteurs I mentioned above; as they drive the FOOT on the GAS Pedal Syndrome. Whilst up-skilling, re-engaging and creating more capacity for the rest and repair response to do its thing.
Less gas pedal…More break = so that the body can do its thing and you can achieve the outcomes you want without breaking the energy piggy bank (and avoiding burnout and an endless string of nights without sleep).
If you are currently struggling at work and especially with a team that is not getting enough sleep, here is your link to waitlist for our next intake.
Click here for the SNOOZE Fest
