Human beings have innate healing mechanisms built into us. However, our modern lives have disrupted the ability for these repair mechanisms to turn on. When we do not repair, this causes dis-ease in the body which eventually shows up as symptoms. If we get the core structure right of what we human beings need, our physiology can automatically work for us, which keeps us happy and healthy. Let’s talk about 8 things that have changed so that you can take some proactive steps.
Circadian rhythm is a human being’s internal clock which regulates an individual’s sleep-wake cycles. This biological clock is dependent on environmental factors such as light and the absence of light (think the light from the sunrise, sunset, moon, and darkness.) The light triggers the SCN (a region of the hypothalamus, a gland found in the brain) also known as the ‘Master Clock’. This ‘Master Clock’ entrains the peripheral clocks found in organs of the body. This influences everything from release of hormones, neurotransmitters, digestive enzymes, and what time to repair. When we are constantly disrupting this rhythm (such as in jet lag or staying up late on the weekends), we are disrupting the release of all of our chemical messengers and ability to repair. This impacts everything from our mood, energy, weight, digestion, and sleep.
Solution Idea: Try getting some sunlight first thing in the morning for about 10-20 minutes and in the evening for 10-20 minutes to help give the proper signaling to your brain. Even if you are staying out late and your schedule has changed, this still helps.
Human beings were wired to be in tribes which kept us in a Ventral Vagal State of the nervous system. This is the state of the nervous system where the body feels safe to repair. With our modern lives and increased isolation, we have lost a lot of what inherently brought us safety which was community. This keeps us in a subconscious state of “fight or flight”. When we are in “fight or flight”, our body’s energy goes towards fighting the threat versus turning on repair mechanisms. When we do not turn on our repair mechanisms is when dis-ease shows up.
Solution Idea: Try a new meetup group, activity you are interested in, fitness class, or faith based group you want to be a part of. Host a party where friends have to bring one person you do not know. That way you get to expand your social circle.
Human beings were not wired for constant exposure to news. Before it would take months before we would hear some news and now we are exposed 24/7. Brain does not know the difference between what is real and not. The constant notifications, headlines, scrolling keeps our system in “fight or flight”. Though it is normalized in our culture, constantly being hypervigilant to every notification, news story, or new social media reel is taking away energy from repair. The constant eye movements required to scroll keep our systems very hypervigilant which is telling our brain there is a threat. Our brains are wired for boredom so that it can connect ideas and have “aha” moments”.
Solution Idea: Try a digital free activity, catch up with a friend on the phone, or practice increasing your phone free time gradually. Turn your phone to grayscale to make it less addicting.
Human beings evolved to be outside. With our modern culture, most of us are hardly spending any time outdoors. The sounds, sights, and smells of nature all have a positive affect on our physiology. For example, just 10 minutes of nature time has shown to lower cortisol levels.
If you want to up the “ante” on your time in nature. Make it an “awe walk”. Nature provides plenty of moments of “awe” where you encounter something out of your frame of reference that you do not understand. It takes your breath away. Think sunsets, sunrises, clouds, trees, mountains (if you have them near you), beaches etc. One study by Dacher Keltner Ph.D, a happiness scientist, found that when you took an “awe walk” for 15 minutes once a week compared to a “regular walk”, people experienced greater joy, prosocial emotions, and increased smile intensity. They had greater positive emotions and greater decreases in daily distress over time. When you have a decrease in daily distress, this helps get your body into parasympathetic mode, which is repair mode. This helps everything from mood, hormones, weight, inflammation, immune system, sleep, digestion etc)⠀
Solution Idea: Start with 10 minutes of nature time a day. Take in the scenery and use all of your senses. What do you see? What do you smell? What do you taste? What do you hear? How do you feel? Bonus points for making it an “awe walk”.
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