“I have learned how much I need to practice the techniques taught in this course. In theory, it makes sense and sounds easy to do, but in reality, it is a bit more difficult and takes practice to remain calm with a neutral face when in an escalated situation. I also learned that giving 2 choices helps the student redirect their escalated feelings.”
It takes practice! Learning nervous system regulation isn’t a lecture sit and learn type thing (unfortunately). It takes time, repetition, awareness and honestly, it becomes a lifestyle.
I began my own journey on January 1, 2014. Well, that is when I started meditating - 90 days in a row! I was fascinated by the transformation in such a short amount of time. I wanted to shout it from the rooftops and teach it in my classroom.
What I noticed right away:
🤯 I stopped yelling or raising my voice in the classroom altogether.
🤯 The voice in my head became kinder to me.
🤯 I finally understood what “pause before responding” really meant.
Of course, meditation is just one part of the nervous system regulation journey. Eventually, I will probably write a book about all the paths, workshops, classes, books, articles, therapy, podcasts, programs and practices I’ve explored to support my own regulation.
Everybody has their own path, which is one of the most beautiful parts of being human. There is no single way to get there. But there are tools, habits and practices that can help regulate your nervous system over time.
Self-awareness is step one, which I’ve referred to in several previous articles. If you are reading this article, there’s a good chance you already know something feels off and you want to learn more. That alone is building your self-awareness muscle. GO YOU!
Another important piece is building a lifestyle with the least amount of unnecessary stress possible. The stressors at home follow us into school and impact how we show up in the classroom.
What helps?
Communicating with people in your home about what feels supportive and what feels hard. Working together as a team to make daily life easier for everyone, not just one person.
And sometimes taking shortcuts where you can.
One co-worker once told me: “Just go to Costco and buy the pre-cut crudite instead of cutting it all up yourself. I know you and it’s just such a time-saver.”
And she was right. Figure out where you can simplify life in ways that align with your values.
Another important piece is value-aligned living. First, you have to identify your values and revisit them often. Is the way you spend your time aligned with what matters most to you? Do your activities, relationships and commitments move you closer to the kind of life you actually want?
These are just a few ideas to play with, learn more about and practice as you learn to regulate your nervous system.
Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as saying, “I’m going to be regulated today,” and then magically being regulated. You don’t intend to become dysregulated, it happens.
Becoming aware that you want something different, that’s the first step!
One action you can take this week: when something starts to feel stressful, pause and ask yourself, “Do I actually need to do this right now or can it wait?”