Your parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) is the “rest and digest” branch of your autonomic nervous system (ANS). Activating this division promotes sleep, digestion, growth, development and immune function. Below are 8 of the best ways to activate your “rest and digest” system in the midst of a stressful world. 

1. Meditate for 5 minutes

2. Take 60 seconds to perform deep abdominal breathing (diaphragmatic breathing)

3. Spend time in nature for 20 minutes

4. Do a couple yoga poses

5. Spend 15 minutes playing with you kids or pets

6. Avoid excess caffeine and sugar when possible

7. Get 8+ hours of sleep 

8. Get adjusted regularly

Adjustments are one of the best tools to balance the activity between our “fight or flight” and “rest and digest” systems. Focusing on the regions of the spine where the parasympathetic nerves arise (cervical/neck, sacrum/buttock) helps stimulate those nerves and promote a “rest and digest” state.