Vagus Nerve: How to Relieve Anxiety, Reduce Chronic Inflammation, and Prevent Illness by Stimulating Vagal Tone to Restore Balance

● Listen. Pay attention to the sounds that you hear; if indoors, from dishes in the kitchen to appliance sounds, the TV or radio. You might hear a radiator making a popping sound, or the floor creaking. Listen to sounds outside, from the wind in the trees to birds chirping and dogs barking. You may hear traffic sounds, sirens, or airplanes passing overhead. Make a brief mental note of each sound, but don’t dwell on it so you can keep alert to other sounds.

● Scent. Become aware of any odors you can detect. You might become aware of the smell of a carpet, or something cooking, for example. If outdoors, you could scent cut grass, evergreen trees, newly turned earth, or a scent carried on the wind.

● Feel. Allow your mind to be open to the sensations of touch, such as the seat beneath you (if seated), or the feeling of your shoes if you turn your feet or raise your toes. Can you feel if you are warm, or cold? When outdoors, do you feel the sun, or cold air, or wind?

● See. Next, open your eyes (if closed), and look forward, without turning your head. What do you see? Indoors, you may see a wall, windows, curtains, furniture, appliances, pictures or paintings, or lamps. Outdoors, you could see houses, buildings, the sky, clouds, trees, people, cars, for example.