Resetting Your Nervous System: How to Start the Year Feeling Balanced and Resilient
- Susan Goslett
- Jan 4
- 2 min read
The beginning of a new year often comes with good intentions — more energy, better health, less stress.
Yet many people arrive in January already feeling tired, overwhelmed or out of rhythm.
From a nervous system perspective, this makes sense.
Your nervous system doesn’t reset overnight
Your nervous system is constantly responding to:
Physical stress (posture, movement, sleep)
Emotional stress (pressure, uncertainty, expectations)
Chemical stress (diet, stimulants, inflammation)
Rather than needing a dramatic “detox” or overhaul, what most bodies truly need is regulation — the ability to move smoothly between activity and rest.
What does “nervous system regulation” actually mean?
A regulated nervous system can:
Adapt to stress without getting stuck in tension
Settle into rest and recovery when needed
Coordinate movement, digestion, immunity and sleep efficiently
When regulation is reduced, people may notice:
Poor sleep or difficulty switching off
Muscle tension or recurring aches
Digestive discomfort
Feeling “wired but tired”
Reset begins with rhythm, not force
Long before modern neuroscience, traditional medical systems recognised the importance of daily rhythm. Regular sleep times, consistent movement, mindful breathing and moments of stillness act as gentle “reset buttons” for the nervous system.
In chiropractic care, we view the spine as central to this process — not because it “fixes” the body, but because it helps restore clearer communication between the brain and body.
Simple ways to support a January reset
Breathe slowly and fully for a few minutes each day
Move regularly, even if gently
Limit overstimulation (screens, caffeine, constant noise)
Create predictable routines, especially around sleep
Support spinal health, so the nervous system can adapt more efficiently
A sustainable start to the year
Health isn’t about pushing harder in January.
It’s about helping your nervous system feel safe enough to regulate, adapt and heal.
When regulation improves, energy follows.
📚 References & Supporting Literature
Nervous system regulation & stress
Porges, S. W. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory.
McEwen, B. S. (1998). Stress, adaptation, and disease. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.
Thayer, J. F., & Lane, R. D. (2000). A model of neurovisceral integration.
Rhythm, sleep & regulation
Walker, M. (2017). Why We Sleep.
Zee, P. C., & Vitiello, M. V. (2009). Circadian rhythm sleep disorders.
Infant development & co-regulation
Schore, A. N. (2001). Effects of early relational trauma on right brain development.
Feldman, R. (2007). Parent–infant synchrony.
Anthroposophical medicine & rhythm
Steiner, R. An Outline of Esoteric Science (concepts of rhythm and balance)
Kienle et al. (2013). Anthroposophic Medicine: Effectiveness, Utility, Costs, Safety
