The Power of Cold Exposure: How the Cold Can Calm Your Nervous System

2025-02-24

In this episode, Lauren continues to explore ways to reset the nervous system. Today, she talks specifically about using cold exposure to activate the vagus nerve to promote calm and build resilience. She shares a handful of cold exposure methods and suggests starting small and focusing on controlled breathing and finding a place of calm. Under 5 minutes of cold exposure provides the most benefit!If you haven't already, check out Five Ives to see how strategies like this can be applied to adults, especially in the workplace. Five Ives works with staff in high burnout jobs to help them...

If you haven't already, check out Five Ives to see how strategies like this can be applied to adults, especially in the workplace. Five Ives works with staff in high burnout jobs to help them incorporate regulation strategies into their daily routines.

Try at Home Tip: Try one of the cold exposure options Lauren discussed!

Other related resources from The Behavior Hub:

Blog Post:

Polyvagal Theory
Sympathetic Nervous System
Fight or Flight: Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS)
Rest & Digest: Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS)

Podcast:

Beyond Deep Breaths: Surprising Ways to Reset your System
Polyvagal Theory- What in the world is it and why should I care?
The Link Between Technology and Nervous System Dysregulation
Find Your Way Back to the Window of Tolerance
Micro Changes Macro Results
I Can't Stop Talking about the Nervous System
5 Ives episode
Window of Tolerance
Manage Your Stress or it will Manage You

Our Online Courses:

Classroom Design with the Brain in Mind
From Conflict to Calm: How to communicate with kids so they listen the FIRST time!
4 Simple Steps to Problem Solving

Do you have a question? I can answer it in a future episode!