Trusting my Nervous System - Letting my Animal Rest
The more I learn about the Autonomic Nervous System the more I trust it with my life.
After all it's been co-ordinating the lives of animals for millions of years.
I think it knows what it's doing!
I like to see my nervous system as my animal.
Its needs are very simple. Sunshine, Sleep, Sex, Strolling, Snuggles and Singing along to Belinda Carlisle ;)
Of course I also have a mini charioteer perched behind my eyebrows - reins looped around my ears, blinkering my eyes, squeezing my sides, whipping my behind and shouting giddy up!
Luckily my animal is a stubborn mare who knows who holds power. And so I regularly find my mare grinds me to a halt, snorts, basks in the sun, eats a tasty morsel, nuzzles my horsy friends and watches the birds flitting about while my exasperated charioteer shouts "you'll be late", "you'll miss out," "you're lazy", "the world is going to COLLAPSE!!!"...
whinny whinny
Should I be coerced into action, I occasionally like to run my charioteer under a low hanging branch just to make sure she's clear who's in charge!
The charioteer having not seen what was coming may say 'Oh wow' This thing just unexpectedly happened - I lost my keys, tripped on the stairs, got this weird sickness...
But horse knows ;)
Neeiigghhh - aka Noooohh! to you and your silly ideas!
I spend a lot of time reminding clients we are animals. That the nervous system is millions of years older than the prefrontal cortex and that it trumps any lofty, rational, 'should do' ideas we have.
In embodiment one of the most important things we can do is start honouring our nervous system. And giving in to its requests. In reality it doesn't ask for much!
But if your charioteer treats its horse with disregard, or distain the horse will eventually buck, bolt or buckle.
One of the simplest things our animal needs is rest and last year I spoke with Jo Pickup from Arts Hub about this oft overlooked need.
Many cultures have a much better relationship with rest that we have in the 'West.' I'm never sure if my culture has always been at war with rest but the anglo-saxons are synonymous with industriousness and rest seems pretty anti-industrious - except ironically it's not - so maybe it's a long held grudge.
When the Industrial Revolution was in full swing the argument for rest and play was put forward.
And so when we, Australians, regulated work we regulated of rest.
8 hours of work. 8 hours of play. 8 hours of rest.
Before the industrial age the 8-hour work day did not exist but neither did the 8-hour sleep cycle.
Interestingly insomnia has been increasing ever since. One of the reasons considered, aside from the development of artificial light, is that the 8-hour sleep cycle is not human, or humane.
If you have spent time in Spain or Italy you'll know their work-rest rhythms are not 9-5. And they pride themselves on long lunches, late jovial dinners, and an array of humane cultured activities. But they also take naps, and rest through out the day.
When I travelled through Asia and Europe I was fascinated that the 8/8/8 day was not the norm.
When I ravelled to India I was confronted with a complete rejection of such a notion. The Indian rhythms were almost destabilising for me as they bore no resemblance to my familiar.
When our plane landed after midnight I thought I would be greeted by a quiet India. How far from the truth was that. People were collecting wood and water, walking along the street with dogs trotting behind, sitting on fences laughing. Even small children were running about. Being in India changed my attachment to western ideals as being right or even 'normal'. (In India you also to eat curry for breakfast! And that feel's great!)
Human beings appear to be the only creatures who actively avoid rest.
(Or perhaps Western humans?)
No other animal fights rest. Unless of course they are starving or in immediate danger.
Are we starving or in immediate danger?!
Some pessimists might argue we are. But it doesn't need to be that way. Listen to your horse and use the subtle intelligence of your charioteer to build a relationship based on listening, caring, loving and leading yourself with insight into how your horse likes to be led.
In reality the prefrontal cortex is best used for observation, relating, tweaking and advocating for what the nervous system needs.
Nervous systems like repetition, absolutely, and if the 8-hour cycle works for you, honour that, but if it's not working, or you're caring for little ones, or sick ones, or working a job that does not fit this ideal... maybe it's time to yield to a different way of being human.
By understanding your nervous system cycles - which moves in 1.5 hours, 45 mins and 22.5 mins rhythms - you can create your own patterns. Each persons cycle and each persons need are different so use your charioteer to pay attention and learn.
Maybe you sleep 7.5 or 9 hours a night. Or you wake 4.5 hours after you've first fallen asleep, stay awake for a while, and then sink back in for a second round. Maybe you like to nap at 4.
If night waking is something you experience Maybe it's ok? Or, even more radical, as Roger Ekirch wonders, Maybe it's normal! Many animals wake in the night and saunter off for midnight escapades. Or they shift about in their bed, cleaning themselves, smelling and listening to the sounds of night. Next time you wake, instead of using the time to fret, can you be animal? Can you smell and listen to the darkness? Or maybe it's the perfect time to meditate, stretch, knit, draw, masturbate, read, or write.
Or maybe you'd like a 20 minute nap?
Salvadore Dali held a key over a plate to ensure he only slept for 20 mins. And many Sporting Institutes are creating nap room. Perhaps we'll follow Japans lead and build sleeping pods.
It's about discovering what works for you.
That may be sleeping 10-6, but it may not be.
But whatever you do... please...
Don't stress about it!
Get proper help if you need but also know...
Our nervous system is one of the most adaptive systems we have.
Maybe you can start trusting it with your life.