Hello there, friend. Whether you're a worn-out mama in the thick throes of childbearing, a retired woman with grown children, or a single woman looking for encouragement, you've come to the right place. I've been on a journey to regulate my nervous system for the past year. Through prayer, fasting, and extensive reading and learning from others, I have developed habits that I have interwoven into my life to help regulate my emotions and body. Some of these habits began 23 years ago when I first became a wife. Some started this last year, and others I have been doing for all the years in between.
This journey has not been easy. It's been hard work, a long and still ongoing journey. However, I have noticed a decrease in brain fog, a more peaceful and joyful attitude, and an increase in energy by consistently working on these habits and implementing these tips into my daily routine and life.
Today, I'm sharing 49 personal habits and tips that I currently use in my life to nourish, nurture, and weave beauty into my life and that of my family.
These are not just theoretical ideas but practical habits that I've found to be effective and manageable in my daily life. I've included helpful links and blog posts to provide further insight into the topics that I use.
- Reading Scripture
- Prayer - You can find some great resources to help focus on prayer—The Power of a Praying Wife and The Power of a Praying Parent, both by Stormie Omartian.
- The first-morning sunlight is a powerful tool for regulating your circadian rhythm, providing a surge of energy and promoting better sleep at night. I make it a point to step outside for a few minutes each morning. Just this morning, I took a book out to read and swung in my hammock while listening to the birds sing for 15 minutes. It was a glorious experience, and I felt so invigorated, ready to embrace the day before my children woke up.
- Casting down negative or unhealthy thoughts and spirits - this has been very eye-opening to me over the last year. I didn't realize how toxic my thoughts were until a friend rebuked me for negative words I was regularly speaking. This led me to examine what I was allowing into my heart and mind. Dr. Henry Wright's teachings, which focus on identifying and rejecting negative thoughts and influences, are extremely helpful in uncovering spiritual strongholds in my life and enabling me to walk in greater freedom.
- Worship music - did you know that you can activate your parasympathetic nervous system by singing? We love listening to Scripture set to music. Corner Room music is a great place to start.
- Fasting and feasting based on your cycle, as advocated by Dr. Mindy Pelz in her book Fast Like a Girl, is a powerful strategy. This approach has empowered me to halt perimenopausal weight gain in my 40s and establish an eating routine that is both sustainable and nourishing for my body. It provides me with the energy my hormones need at any given moment, a sense of accomplishment, and a renewed determination to take control of my health.
- Laying in my hammock
- Reading books that nourish, nurture, and add beauty to my life
- Regulate blood sugar levels - this has been a huge wake-up call for me. I love carbs like most people, and my favorites include my homemade sourdough bread, Hu chocolate, and dried fruit. Unfortunately, I wasn't feeling well with these food items in my diet. While they are amazing foods, they were causing my blood sugar levels to spike, causing weight gain and energy crashes throughout the day. I have found Good Energy by Casey Means, MD, a book that provides insights into how our diet affects our energy levels and offers practical tips to regulate blood sugar, to be an excellent resource that helps me identify what is causing my cells to malfunction and alleviate my unwanted symptoms.
- Slow morning routine - a link to several blog articles I've written on morning routines.
- Eating whole, unprocessed foods
- A massage chair is an excellent tool for taking 15 minutes a day to sit and rest my muscles. This simple act helps to calm my body and mind, leaving me feeling relaxed and at peace. This one is similar to what I have.
- Family Read-Alouds - it's so easy to let the kids spend time on electronics or send them outside without any real connection in a day. We have a daily anchor to read aloud together.
- Gentle Exercise
- Strength Training
- Warm drink each morning after breakfast - My current favorite is decaf coffee from Lifeboost Coffee, paired with organic cream that's free from chemicals.
- Diffusing my favorite essential oils
- Simple chores that keep stress levels down - I've blogged about the top chores I make a priority each day.
- Taking an outdoor walk - bonus is if my husband is home and we can do this together.
- Rebounding - I do 3 minutes a day to help with my lymphatic system.
- Reading before bed - I have my favorites list here.
- No lights after sunset - We are still working on this as a family, as not all members of my family remember to turn the lights off as the sun sets.
- Shutting down electronics one hour before bed
- Swinging - there's nothing like a good 'ole porch swing to sit on and enjoy the sunshine.
- Checklists - are you constantly forgetting things, and is it causing a cortisol-stressful response in you? Make a daily checklist you can refer to often throughout the day.
- Brain Dumps - what's bothering you? Undone task lists? It is helpful to review all my to-do list items in my planner each Sunday and then spread those items out on my daily list throughout the week.
- Journaling
- Limiting social media exposure
- Daily rhythms
- Dinner around the table each night as a family - My children are ages 21, 19, almost 12, 9, and 6. My husband and I started doing this 23 years ago, and we fought hard to maintain this priority as we raised our children. We will never regret all the 'no's' we said to protect this time together as a family.
- Wear natural fabric clothing
- Wear toxin-free makeup
- Spending 3+ hours a day outside is a goal, but it's not something I stress about if I'm unable to do so.
- Time with a close circle of friends - community with others is such a gift. Surrounding yourself with a life giving community that encourages you you in your faith walk, has been a priority in my journey to healing.
- Sabbath - another life-changing family rhythm that saved our family culture.
- Hikes - We've been inspired by some friends who make hiking a priority in their family culture. To stop and observe creation has been breathtaking and transformational. Real-life friends and this book have inspired me: Barefoot and Balanced: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children by Angela Hanscom.
- Sunset lighting
- Family traditions - Friday night ice cream is one of many our family enjoys weekly.
- Sauna blanket
- Castor Oil Packs
- Camping
- Decluttering
- Gardening
- Get rid of toxins
- Stop Grumbling - so many scriptures inspire us to capture our thoughts and be thankful for the many blessings around us.
- Post Scripture up in your home for reminders.
- Invest in therapies to help stop and reverse negative habits - I had allowed stress to overtake my body, and I began clenching my jaw and grinding my teeth. I started a year of therapy with my dentist to help curb those habits. After finishing, I realized that I still had underlying problems to address. Hence, I found a local chiropractor to help me discover I had a phase 2 degenerative disc in my neck. Therapy has helped tremendously with my jaw, neck, and shoulder pain, allowing me to think more clearly and have more energy. It's tough to do this as a mom, but as I prayed about the opportunities, the Father gave me ideas and ways I could make this a priority in my life.
- Routine Blood Tests - We hadn't made this a priority until recently. My husband had some blood work done, and we could not believe the amount of metabolic markers pointing to a higher risk of disease, and we didn't even know it. The great news? These markers are easy to identify and reverse. The two most helpful resources I have found are Good Energy by Casey Means and Stay Off My Operating Table: A Heart Surgeon's Metabolic Health Guide to Lose Weight, Prevent Disease, and Feel Your Best Every Day by Philip Ovadia, MD.
Remember, it's a journey, not a destination, and I hope you find this blog post one that you can refer back to again and again.
The resources shared in this post I’ve personally found helpful and meaningful in healing my nervous system. Some of the links included are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase through them. There’s no added cost to you, and in many cases, you’ll receive a discount as well.
Your support in using these links is a real blessing to the work I share here—thank you!
Would you love more encouragement for every season of homemaking?
Craving more connection at home? Find fresh inspiration with the Nurture Your Family Series.
Feeling stretched thin? Find peace and purpose again with The Nourished Mother Series.
Feeling scattered? Start small and restore rhythm with the Simple Habits for Homemakers Series.
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Thanks for dropping by today! I hope you found encouragement for building a peaceful home. If you know another mom who might benefit from what you've learned here today, be sure to share this post with her!
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