The Best Ways to Recharge (Based on Your Nervous System Type)

Feeling drained all the time? You might not be recharging in a way that actually works for your nervous system.

We all know the importance of rest, but not all rest is created equal. What soothes one person might overstimulate another. That’s why understanding your unique nervous system type can be a game-changer when it comes to recharging effectively and sustainably.

Why Your Nervous System Matters

Your nervous system plays a big role in how you respond to stress and how you recover from it. When it’s in balance, you feel grounded, alert, and calm. When it’s dysregulated, you might feel anxious, shut down, restless, or emotionally flat.

Your go-to way of handling stress—whether it's going for a walk, withdrawing from others, or needing to talk it out—can offer insight into how your nervous system is wired. And learning how to work with your nervous system (rather than against it) helps you recharge in ways that actually restore you.

The Four Nervous System Responses

Let’s break it down into four common responses—fight, flight, freeze, and fawn—and how to recharge if you tend to lean toward one more than the others.

If You Tend Toward Flight: Try Calming & Grounding Activities

You’re always on the move, feeling anxious, overthinking, or needing to do something to feel safe. Resting feels hard because your brain won’t slow down.

Recharge with:

• Breathwork and slow exhalations to calm your heart rate

• Nature walks without a destination—movement without pressure

• Soothing sounds or music

• Meditative journaling to get thoughts out of your head

• Weighted blankets to give your body a sense of containment

You don’t need to “earn” rest by doing enough. You deserve calm, even if your to-do list isn’t done.

If You Tend Toward Freeze: Try Gentle Activation

You feel emotionally numb, stuck, or disconnected. It’s hard to get moving, and everything feels like “too much.”

Recharge with:

• Small, sensory-based activities, like running your hands under warm water or holding ice

• Gentle movement (yoga, stretching, or swaying)

• Low-pressure connection—a text, a voice note, or a short call with someone safe

• Soft light and calm environments

• Five-minute tasks to create momentum without overwhelm

Start small. A little movement or connection can help shift you out of shutdown and into safety.

If You Tend Toward Fight: Try Expressive, Tension-Release Activities

You may experience anger, irritability, or feel a need to control your surroundings. You’re on edge, easily frustrated, or reactive.

Recharge with:

• High-intensity workouts or something that helps discharge energy safely

• Creative expression, like painting, singing, or writing

• Setting boundaries and reclaiming your time and space

• Vocal toning or screaming into a pillow (yes, really)

• Box breathing or paced breathing techniques to reset your state

You don’t have to “calm down”—you need safe release first. After that, your body will find stillness more naturally.

If You Tend Toward Fawn: Try Reconnecting with Your Needs

You put others first, stay agreeable to avoid conflict, and feel guilty when you focus on yourself. You might not even know what you need anymore.

Recharge with:

• Alone time to reconnect with your own voice

• Saying “no” gently and practicing boundary-setting

• Choosing what you want to eat, watch, or do, without input

• Affirmations like: “It’s safe to take up space” or “I can rest without fixing anyone.”

• Spending time with people who feel emotionally safe and accepting

  
  

Remember: you are allowed to rest even if others aren’t okay. Your needs matter too.

There's No One “Right” Way to Recharge

What works for your best friend might not work for you, and that’s okay. Recharging is about tuning into your own nervous system and asking: What helps me feel safe, steady, and whole?

You’re not lazy for needing downtime. You’re not “too much” for feeling wired. You’re a human being with a nervous system that’s doing its best to adapt to a world that rarely slows down.

Ready to Recharge in a Way That Actually Works?

If you’re feeling chronically exhausted, anxious, or disconnected, you don’t have to figure it out on your own.

Book a free consultation today and let’s explore how your nervous system type might be influencing your burnout—and how you can recharge in a way that truly restores you.