A ritual for mornings that begin in survival mode.
You open your eyes, and your heart’s already racing. You haven’t even made it to your to-do list, and yet your body feels like it’s running. This is what an overstimulated nervous system feels like. And the fix isn’t always a 60-minute workout or a meditation retreat.
Sometimes, the most healing thing you can do is move a little — with intention.
These micro-movements aren't for burning calories or chasing your next fitness goal. They're really designed to help you interrupt the feeling of urgency with being present. You're telling your body that you're not rushing and are safe at this pace.
Here are five gentle, nervous system–soothing movements you can do in the first ten minutes of your morning — ideally while your skincare ritual is steeping in.
NECK ROLLS WITH BREATH
You hold more stress in your neck than you realize. Gently lower your chin to your chest, inhale deeply and begin rolling your neck to one side — slow, like you’re moving through honey. Exhale on the way down. Reverse directions. Repeat 3x. This helps loosen tension in the vagus nerve pathway (which regulates your parasympathetic nervous system) and signals to your brain that you're not in danger.
LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE SHOULDER TAPS
With your fingertips, lightly tap your shoulders, starting from the inside near the collarbone and moving out toward the deltoid. Keep your breath steady and soft. Switch sides. This is assists you stimulate circulation and lymph flow, encouraging blood to move through stagnant areas and acts like a physical “reset” button for the body.
WRIST ROLLS + FOREARM SWEEP
Hold your arms out in front of you and begin rotating your wrists in slow circles. Then gently sweep your opposite hand up and down the forearm. Switch sides. This is incredibly helpful for releasing static tension in the hands and arms, especially for anyone glued to devices. It helps “discharge” overstimulation.
PELVIC ROCKING (STANDING OR SEATED)
While standing or seated, gently rock your pelvis forward and backward, not aggressively, but like a wave. Keep your breath soft. Let your spine sway with you. This is helpful because the pelvis is a central grounding point in somatic work. This movement reminds the body it has weight, rhythm and grounding — three things that fight fight-or-flight energy.
SHAKE IT OUT
Yes, literally. Gently shake your hands, arms, shoulders and legs. Let your body do what animals do after stress — release it physically. This is beneficial knowing that shaking is a trauma-informed somatic practice to discharge built-up energy. It’s playful. It’s primal. And it works.
*Before or after these movements, take two minutes for a moment of skincare stillness. The Function Flow Cleanser is formulated to support mornings like these — awakening skin, reducing inflammation and offering sensory calm as you step into your day.