Oh, wow. It’s been a big week.
All around the world, there have been announcements, warnings, sirens, marches, peace talks, war talks, markets moving, and social media meltdowns.
And we experienced most of this with our eyes. Almost continuously from the moment we wake up.
Our eyes are the entry point for so much of the stimuli that puts our nervous system under pressure.
And, get this … 30 to 40% of our brain’s energy is spent processing what the eyes are observing!
So, let’s give them both a break, hey?
If you block visual input, even just for a moment, you abruptly remove the load from your nervous system, and you give it a genuine moment of low-simulation rest.
Here’s how to do it:
• Rub your palms together for a few seconds to generate warmth
• Cup your palms and place them over your eyes, without putting any pressure on your eyeballs.
• Hold there for several slow breaths.
• That’s all.
Most people will feel the positive impact within just 30 – 60 seconds.
But, heck, take as long as you like.
If you’re wondering … “Is this real?”
Yes.
This is called eye palming (unsurprisingly). This process gives your parasympathetic nervous system (the calming system) the chance to take over from your sympathetic nervous system (the stress carrier).
Plus, when you relax your eye muscles, you also reduce the muscle activity through the rest of your head and jaw, where stress is usually held. And when you warm your palms first, this deepens the effect.
It’s something you can do at your desk, and the people around you will just assume you’re thinking (or crying), but they’re busy anyway.
So, if this week has given you a lot to look at, take a moment to let your calming center catch up.
Try eye palming. It really works.
LearnWell — Post 9 of 11