Tips to Reset Your Nervous System After a Long Day
Feeling overstimulated or drained? These simple, realistic ways help me reset my nervous system at the end of the day—no complicated routines required. I hope this can help reset your nervous system too.
By the end of the day, I can usually feel it.
The noise. The mental load. The overstimulation.
Between work, kids, constant notifications, and just life… my body doesn’t always know how to slow down on its own. My nervous system is F-R-I-E-D.
And I’ve realized something important:
• I don’t need a full routine to feel better.
• I just need a few small things that help me reset.
These are the simple ways I reset my nervous system after a long day—nothing complicated, just what actually works in real life.
What I Do Daily to Keep My Nervous System More Balanced
Before I even get to the “reset” part of my day, there are a couple things I try to do consistently that help keep everything a little more stable overall.
Nothing extreme—just simple habits that make a difference over time.
- I go on walks whenever I can
- I take magnesium gummies regularly. I’ve been especially enjoying these individually packaged ones lately.
The walks help clear my head, get me out of the house or away from my desk at work, and give me a mental break from everything going on.
And the magnesium has just become part of my routine—it’s one of those small things that supports a calmer baseline.
•When I stay consistent with these, I notice I don’t get as overwhelmed as easily.
I Step Outside (Even for a Few Minutes)
This is always my first move.
Even just:
- standing outside
- sitting on the patio
- letting the air hit my skin (or my misting system which I love!)
- walk around my yard and look at my plants and the sky
- later in the evening I walk around and enjoy all of my solar lights
But honestly, this has become more of a ritual for me.
We have a misting system on our back patio, soft solar lights, and it’s one of my favorite places to just pause for a minute.
Sometimes I’ll:
- kick my feet up
- sit in the quiet
- sip a drink
- and just let myself decompress
In Arizona, the evenings are the best time for this.
• It immediately shifts me out of that overstimulated, inside-all-day feeling.
I Dim the Lights and Change the Energy of My Space
As soon as the sun starts going down, I:
- turn off or really dim the overhead lights (we have dimmers all over the house for the recessed lighting. This is the brand my electrician recommends.)
- switch to lamps or softer lighting
- light a candle if I have one nearby (which I pretty much always do since I’m a candle collector! See one of my favorites here)
It’s a small shift, but it completely changes how the house feels.
Everything slows down—even if nothing else has changed.
I Make a Drink and Sit Down (No Multitasking)
This has become one of my favorite rituals.
Something simple like:
- a cup of tea
- drinking a Hiyo (I drink this when I want a little buzz-type feel. It’s a social tonic.)
- or something like a Moment or Trip drink (these are more for chill times and mood boosting)
Most of the time, I’ll take it outside to the patio, sit under the lights, and just be still for a few minutes.
It forces me to pause, even if just for a moment. BONUS: These are all very low calorie drinks. I also am not a fan of certain artificial sweetners and none of these have that weird taste that those give. You can get 15% off of Moment with my link, https://ambassadors.drinkmoment.com/JACKIEMAX . I’ve been enjoying it since 2023!
I Do a Small “Comfort Reset”
This is where I lean into things that feel calming, not productive.
Sometimes that looks like:
- putting on a face mask
- using red light therapy for a few minutes
- changing into something comfortable or if I really want a spa moment, my Hello Mello robe
It’s less about what I’m doing and more about signaling to my body that the day is over.
I Read Instead of Scroll
This one makes a bigger difference than I expect every time.
Instead of automatically grabbing my phone, I:
- pick up a book or my Kindle (30 day free trial of Kindle Unlimited here)
- read a few pages
- or just sit in quiet for a minute
It helps my brain actually slow down instead of staying overstimulated.
I’m about 3/4 of the way through reading People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry. I am starting to see why people use services like Audible. It’s hard to fit in time to read but I’m also OK with taking my time with it. I have the beautiful hard cover version and I like having my books as little trophies when I’m done anyways lol. I’m enjoying the book and the way it is written. I’d recommend giving it a read! If you’d rather listen to the book, you can get a free trial with Audible here.
On Days I Need Extra Help, I Keep It Simple
Some days, the mental load is just heavier.
On those days, I’ll take a couple of Calm gummies as part of my wind-down routine.
They have ingredients like:
- ashwagandha
- L-theanine
- GABA
Nothing extreme—just something gentle that helps take the edge off when I need it.
I don’t rely on it every day, but it’s nice to have as an option when I feel especially overwhelmed. I’ve actually repurchased these 5 times so far! My fiance will take them from time to time too.
The Way I Think About Wellness Now
I used to think wellness had to be:
- structured routines
- long morning habits
- perfect nighttime rituals
But right now, in this season of life…
wellness looks like small, intentional resets.
Nothing overwhelming. Nothing unrealistic.
Just simple things that help me feel better.
A Few Things That Help Me Create This Routine
These are a few things I reach for regularly:
- Herbal teas or calming drinks for the evening
- Non-alcoholic options like Hiyo or Moment
- A simple face mask for a quick reset
- A red light therapy device
- Calm gummies for those extra overwhelming days
- A book I actually look forward to reading
- Candles or soft lighting for that end-of-day shift
None of this is necessary—but having a few go-to things makes it easier to actually slow down.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need a full routine to reset your nervous system.
You don’t need more on your to-do list.
You just need a few moments that help you:
- slow down
- feel grounded
- transition out of the day
Start small. That’s where it actually works.
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