2026 Nervous system reset
5 easy elemental practices
With the New year upon us,
it feels like a perfect opportunity for some good ole fashion nervous system regulation… am I right?!
Just because it’s the new year, doesn’t mean that it’s time to change everything… better yet, just some simple fine tuning of some of the ways you already care for yourself and others.
feeling anxious instead of inspired?
pressure instead of possibility?
why does everyone else seem excited - and I just feel overwhelmed?
This is totally normal and it happens to most of us if we are completely honest.
Because there are so many “best practices” out there and about a million different ways you can go about them… I felt compelled to write and share my experience and 5 of my favorites. Self care can feel overwhelming at times and feeling that way about it is doing the exact opposite of the magic we are trying to achieve.
𒇫 𒇫 𒇫 𒇫 𒇫 𒇫 𒇫 𒇫 𒇫 𒇫 𒇫 𒇫 𒇫 𒇫
I like it simple so that we can get right into the softeness, the deep healing, and quiet of our own experience. Right to the good stuff - because we all have nervous systems that want to feel fundamentally safe with expansion, uncertainty, visibility, and growth.
𒇫 Not because we’re incapable.
𒇫 Not because we’re blocked.
𒇫 But because our nervous systems are wired for depth.
Do you ever notice that when things start to go well, our bodies don’t automatically celebrate…wtf?
They brace. Let’s start to change that.
5 easy resets.
based on and connected to the 5 elements.
let us create some slow magic together.
Earth practice.
Grounding. 5 4 3 2 1 method
How: Focus on your surroundings to break the stress cycle: Identify 5 things you see, 4 things you feel (e.g., chair against back), 3 things you hear, 2 things you smell, and 1 thing you taste.
Why: It pulls your brain out of a spiral of worry and back into the present moment, calming the nervous system.
Water practice.
Movement. Flow. Somatic exercises
• How: Engage in light, rhythmic movement such as walking, shaking out your hands, light dancing, or gentle stretching (easy 5-10 min a day)
• Why: Physical movement helps release stored cortisol and tension, shifting the body from a "fight-or-flight" state to a calmer, "rest-and-digest" state.
Fire practice.
Intention setting. candle gazing.
• How: Prepare the Environment: Choose a dark, quiet room. Place a candle at eye level, roughly 2–3 feet away from your seated position. Sit comfortably with an upright, straight spine. Light the candle and spend 30 seconds gazing at the base of the flame to settle in. Focus your gaze intensely on the brightest part of the flame for 1–2 minutes, Allow your breathing to become slow and rhythmic.
• Why: Enhances Concentration & Mental Clarity: It acts as a "drishti" (focal point), training the mind to remain focused and less reactive. Reduces Stress & Anxiety: The soothing nature of the flame helps calm the nervous system and encourages a meditative state.
Air practice.
breath work (physiological sigh)
• How: Take a long, slow inhale through your nose, followed by a quick, short second inhale, and then a long, slow exhale through your mouth.
• Why: This pattern immediately helps dump carbon dioxide and slows the heart rate, reducing anxiety in the moment.
Ether practice.
Journaling with Bhava Sleepy Head Tea
• How: make yourself a cup of our Sleepy Head herbal tea to help you drop in to your calm and then open your journal and free flow write or draw whatever comes up
• Why: Journaling is an etheric, spiritual practice that serves as a bridge between our conscious mind and our subconscious, facilitating emotional release, mental clarity, and spiritual growth. By documenting our thoughts and feelings without judgment, we can process trauma, grief, stress, anxiety, cultivate mindfulness, and tap into our deeper, more intuitive wisdom. One of my favorite practices by far.
Much like mine, your nervous system may simply be asking for a different starting point.
Instead of asking:
What do I want to manifest this year?
Try asking:
• What would help me feel safer in my body?
• What would create more steadiness, not pressure?
• What pace feels sustainable for me?
• What would it look like to build without burning out?
I have found that from that place, clarity arises naturally.
𒇫 𒇫 𒇫 𒇫 𒇫 𒇫 𒇫 𒇫 𒇫 𒇫 𒇫 𒇫 𒇫 𒇫
Fire Cider Toddy
𒇫
Fire Cider Toddy 𒇫
a grounding herbaceous Winter warmer
adds an immune balancing kick to your Winter mocktails & cocktails.
Our sweet + savory herbal Fire Cider is a natural addition to your seasonal Hot Toddy and pairs well with the spice in a rye, the smokiness in mezcal or a reposado or of course you can find SO many incredible zero proof options these days as well.
**You can also absolutely make this winter warmer without any of the spirits and just with the Fire Cider and the ingredients below. This is the way I drink it most of the time.
𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒:
ground cinnamon (for the rim)
1 tsp honey or agave (to taste)
1.5 ounce Fire Cider
1.5 ounces spirit of choice
hot water
1 orange slice
1 cinnamon stick per glass
garnish of choice ~ we did cranberries wrapped in orange peel on a lavender sprig
𝐃𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒:
coat the rim of your mugs with Cinnamon
add the honey, spirit of choice, Fire Cider, orange slice, and cinnamon stick to your favorite mug
top with hot water and stir
add your decorative garnish and enjoy!
wrap yourself in wool, warmth, and bring that fire back into your bones.
As 2026 begins to bloom, I want to say thank you for being here.
As we move into a New Year, my hope for all of us is simple:
That we are true to ourselves.
That we honor our sensitivity rather than override it.
That we nourish our nervous system first before asking more of ourselves. And that whatever unfolds next, does so at a pace our body + minds can trust.
Thank you for being part of this space - for reading, for reflecting, and for walking this gentler path alongside me.
I am truly grateful, and I wish you a nourishing and deeply supportive year ahead.
Rachel
herbalist, owner, and formulator for Bhava Wellness
𒇫 𒇫 𒇫 𒇫 𒇫 𒇫 𒇫 𒇫 𒇫 𒇫 𒇫 𒇫 𒇫 𒇫
