09/08/2026
Does it feel like you're locked in stress-mode at the end of every day? Try these nervous system hacks to support healthy digestion, sleep, and energy.
Why it works:
Our sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight) keeps us activated and ready to respond to stressors.
Our parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest) allows us to simmer down, sleep, and absorb our food.
Think about it... your body isn't going to be too concerned with digesting a meal if you're being chased by a bear. Both digestion and "fleeing" (whether that be literal or figurative; a stressful meeting triggers the same response) are energy-demanding processes. We can only do one at a time. So that means it's important to be able to transition from sympathetic to parasympathetic states. Making a habit of calming and pleasurable dinnertime practices can help signal to our bodies that it's now time to unwind, nourish, rest, repair, restore.
