The Tiny Change That Helped Me Calm My Nervous System
Lately, I’ve been paying a lot more attention to what actually makes my nervous system feel calm.
Not just what should make me feel calm.
Not another supplement.
Not another morning routine.
Not another thing I needed to add to my already-full life.
But what I could take away.
And one of the biggest things I realized?
My Apple Watch was constantly activating me.
Every little buzz.
Every notification.
Every text.
Every email.
Every reminder to stand.
Every little ding telling me that something somewhere needed my attention.
Even when I wasn't consciously paying attention to it, my body was.
And when you're working on nervous system healing and learning how to regulate your stress response, I think these tiny things matter more than we realize.
So I put my Apple Watch in a drawer.
And honestly?
I'm not looking back.
At first, it felt weird not having all of that information on my wrist. I was so used to knowing who texted me, how many calories I'd burned, whether I had closed my rings, and what was happening on my phone.
But after a while, I noticed something.
It was quieter.
And quiet has become something I'm really protective of.
Especially as someone who practices and teaches Reiki, I've become much more aware of how much our environment can influence the nervous system.
Reiki has taught me to slow down, notice what I'm feeling, and become more intentional about the energy I'm allowing into my day.
And sometimes nervous system regulation isn't about doing more.
Sometimes it's about creating fewer opportunities for your brain and body to stay on alert.
Enter my new favorite little watch.
If you've been on TikTok lately, you may have seen this little watch everywhere.
I kept seeing people talk about it, so naturally... I had to try it.
And I have to tell you, I completely understand the hype.
It's incredibly simple.
It tells me:
The time
The date
My steps
And that's basically it.
No constant notifications. No buzzing wrist. No charging it every night.
And yes, it's waterproof, which means I don't have to take it off every time I wash my hands, shower, or get caught in an Idaho rainstorm.
I got mine in rose gold, because if I'm going to wear a watch, it might as well be cute.
But the best part isn't really the watch.
It's what the watch doesn't do.
It doesn't ask me to respond.
It doesn't interrupt me.
It doesn't tell me that someone just liked something.
It doesn't remind me that I have an unread email.
It simply tells me what time it is.
And somehow, that feels revolutionary.
Is this actually nervous system healing?
Obviously, a watch isn't going to magically heal your nervous system.
Nervous system regulation is much bigger than that.
It can involve sleep, movement, nutrition, breathwork, mindfulness, boundaries, stress management, time in nature, supportive relationships, and practices like Reiki that help us slow down and reconnect with ourselves.
But I do believe that our environment matters.
If we're constantly surrounded by alerts, notifications, screens and demands for our attention, it's worth asking ourselves:
Does my technology support the way I want to feel?
Or is it keeping me in a subtle state of what's next?
Because for me, I don't want to spend my day waiting for the next notification.
I want to be present.
I want to notice when my shoulders are tense.
I want to actually hear the birds when I'm outside.
I want to eat my lunch without checking my phone.
I want to practice Reiki without my wrist buzzing.
I want my nervous system to have moments where nothing is being asked of me.
And this tiny little watch has become one small part of that.
Maybe you don't need another wellness thing.
Maybe you need one less thing.
That's really the bigger lesson I'm taking from this.
We're constantly being sold the next thing that's going to make us healthier, calmer, happier and more productive.
But sometimes nervous system regulation looks like subtraction.
Less noise.
Less stimulation.
Less scrolling.
Less checking.
Less reacting.
More breathing.
More walking.
More sunlight.
More stillness.
More presence.
More listening to what your body is actually telling you.
And for me, one of those little changes was putting my Apple Watch away.
If you've been curious about the viral TikTok watch...
I've linked the exact one I bought here. https://amzn.to/4i2QWZT
I chose the rose gold version, and I genuinely love how simple it is.
It's inexpensive, doesn't need to be charged, tracks my steps, tells me the date and time, and is waterproof.
But more importantly, it doesn't demand my attention.
And right now, that's exactly what I want more of.
Less stimulation.
More presence.
More peace.
Maybe your nervous system needs that too.
With love,
Ashley
Reiki Master | Treasure Valley Reiki
Boise, Idaho
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
I’m an Amazon affiliate and I may earn commission on qualifying purchases.
