Nervous system reset
Monday thoughts after my weekend off social.
In March I seen one of those ‘How to set up your month’ notes whilst scrolling on Substack, and i’m not even sure why but I screenshot it. Then when we arrived home from Florida end of the month and it was unseasonably warm in Scotland I can only assume it was a vitamin D spike after a long winter that pushed an introvert and homebody such as myself to make these commitments.
Things like …
One Lunch date with a Friend
One Date night
Read one new book
Spend one day serving others
One culture day etc.
Oh and the one I left until last, a weekend with no social media.
Honestly I have to say I enjoyed it. Culture days and reading are something I already do, and it was a nice push to make plans for a date night, lunch with friends and looking for ways to serve others in the community.
Yet the one I left until the very end of the month is the one that served me most — and I don’t just mean because I had more time, which I did. I walked, watched 4 films, 3 at home and 1 at the cinema, done the dreaded task of scrubbing our hardwood floors (the definition of a labour of love) but mostly I was just weirdly relaxed.
Since December i’ve been monitoring my Heart Rate & Heart Rate Variability, amongst other things, to try and understand my health better.
HRV is an indicator of our automatic nervous system function and it is said that a lower HRV means that the heart is less flexible and linked to higher stress levels, anxiety and inflammation.
In 5 months my HRV has never been above 50, mostly in the 30s, sometimes in the low 20s. I couldn’t understand why, online it says to drink more water, do breathing exercises, eat well, sleep well etc. I eat mostly whole foods, cook from scratch, do yoga and EFT tapping, journal, walk for an hour each morning, sleep at least 7 hours per night on a very consistent schedule - I really do enjoy the slow and simple life that i’ve built for myself over the past few years and yet my body appears to be in constant fight or flight.
So imagine my surprise when I open my apple watch stats on Saturday to see my HRV at 57, then higher again on Sunday, even again this morning and the only thing that has changed is I stopped scrolling.
Now i’m willing to admit that i’m chronically online, it’s never been a quick scroll once per day, the politics student in me must know what’s happening at all times and well there’s always the excuse that this is my job.
As much as i’d say I have a complicated relationship with social media, it would always be from feeling I wasn’t performing for myself. Not being creative or pushing myself enough. I never assumed that simply scrolling and viewing other peoples lives was affecting me considering how much I do enjoy it. It makes me laugh, keeps me informed and inspires me, yet it would appear is also anxiety inducing.
There was a calmness to just being, which is funny because I honestly thought I was. I write on here most weeks about finding joy in the everyday, the little luxuries and the chic living I practice. I’ve found a peace and happiness in living lately that I didn’t always have before but I guess it’s also about finding the balance of not being ‘on’ all the time. This coming from the girl who has the opposite of do not disturb and sleeps with my phone on the highest volume incase anything happens or anyone needs to reach me.
I don’t have to know everything and it’s ok to actually relax — not just doing practices that should relax me.
Anyway, assuming if you are reading this, that you may be similarly chronically online like me I would recommend a social free weekend. In fact try the whole monthly set up, i’m sure you won’t regret it.
Speak soon,
L xo