Building Community, Even When Your Nervous System's A Wreck
Hello, my loves!
July is here! My little garden is thriving with abundance: beans, zucchini, tomatoes, eggplant and herbs all deeply rooted and doing their thing.
This didn’t happen by accident, but by careful tending. When rabbits ate my first planting of pole beans, I responded by reseeding and adding a small fence (sorry, cottontail!). When the city failed to connect the water in May, I carried buckets from my kitchen sink.
Tending to our own thriving is much the same. Times of stress, dysregulation, and even burnout aren’t about our being broken; they’re our body and soul’s way of saying, “Wait, sis! We need to slow down!”
As a therapist friend says, “nervous systems are meant to get nervous.” We don’t need to freak out.
Instead, when you find yourself in survival mode and joy feels like a far-off dream., attune to the little sparks that remind you life can be sweet, even when it’s hard.
Here are five gentle, practical strategies you can try this month to invite more ease and delight back into your days.
✨ CONNECT
Since you’re already here in this community, try finding a video or something online that makes you laugh. Send it to a friend or acquaintance with a note that says, “This made me laugh out loud. I miss laughing with you. When can we hang out?” It’s a small way to bring some joy and connection into your life.
✨ ENGAGE YOUR SENSE OF SMELL
Give yourself a 5-minute scent break. Head to your kitchen or bathroom and pick out three scents to explore — maybe essential oils, shampoo, coffee beans, vanilla, or a slice of lemon. For each scent, set a one-minute timer and simply breathe it in, noticing what memories or feelings come up.
✨ TAKE YOUR INNER CHILD ON A WALK
Put down your phone, lace up your sneakers, and head outside for just 10 minutes. As you walk around your neighborhood, let your inner child take the lead: notice a bird’s song or a rustling leaf, pick up a cool rock, or skip and gallop for a half block if the mood strikes you.
✨ GIVE YOURSELF A MINI MASSAGE
Slow down and take a moment to gently massage your hands, scalp, or neck. Use deliberate, loving movements and tune in to how it feels. This little act of care can reset your nervous system and bring you fully back into your body.
✨ DANCE IT OUT
Put on a song that makes you want to move. No rules, no judgments — just dance like nobody’s watching, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Let your body shake off tension, invite joy, and remind yourself that movement is medicine.
You deserve joy. You deserve ease. And if you set the intention right now, you’re already on the path from surviving to thriving.
If one of these strategies speaks to you, I’d love to hear which one you’re trying this month — just hit reply and let me know. And if you want more gentle reminders and support for joy, connection, and ease, follow me on Instagram at @greatbearcoach.
