Let Yourself NOT: The Nervous System Reset I Didn’t Know I Needed
There’s something I’ve been doing lately that has absolutely transformed the way I show up in my life, my work, and my energy. It’s not complicated. It’s not fancy. It doesn’t involve a gadget, a meditation app, or even deep breathing.
It’s this:
“I’m just going to sit here… and NOT.”
That’s the phrase I say out loud. Sometimes to myself. Sometimes to my partner Pete. I’ll walk into the lounge, drop my phone on the table, sit on the couch, and say it:
“I’m going to NOT.”
No scrolling. No planning. No fidgeting. No consuming. Just… nothing.
And honestly? Those five minutes of absolutely nothing have done more to reset my nervous system than almost anything else I’ve tried.
🧠 What “NOT” Really Does to Your Brain
Here’s the science behind what’s happening—and why it works.
When we’re constantly doing (even if it’s “relaxing” via a scroll or podcast), we’re in our sympathetic nervous system—the realm of fight, flight, or fixation. Our bodies stay alert. Our minds stay on.
But when we stop—even briefly—we activate the parasympathetic nervous system. This is the part of the body that says:
“You’re safe. You can exhale. You can let go.”
Cortisol drops. Tension eases. Digestion, repair, and emotional processing turn back on.
And in the brain? Something remarkable happens:
The Default Mode Network (DMN) activates.
This is the system that lights up when you’re not focused on anything external. It’s where deep insight, memory consolidation, daydreaming, and creative problem-solving happen.
In other words: when you sit and NOT, your brain isn’t shutting down.
It’s reordering. Rebalancing. Integrating.
🧘♀️ Why “NOT” Works Even Better Than Rest
Let’s be honest: most of us don’t know how to truly rest.
We say we’re taking a break… but we’re watching videos.
We say we’re relaxing… but we’re doom-scrolling, texting, mentally replaying conversations or future-planning while brushing our teeth.
That’s not rest. That’s stimulus in disguise.
What I’ve discovered is that “NOT” is different.
It’s not passive. It’s intentional.
It’s not zoning out. It’s tuning in—without trying.
It’s not resisting effort. It’s releasing all expectation of effort.
🔥 The Power I’ve Found in Doing Nothing
Since creating this space in my day to NOT, I’ve noticed:
- I’m more regulated—emotionally and physically
- I’m clearer before difficult conversations or big decisions
- I don’t confuse silence with boredom anymore
- I’ve stopped performing even in my downtime
- I’m more aware of what I actually want or need
Here’s the real kicker:
When your nervous system is regulated, you stop trying to control everything—because you no longer feel unsafe.
You don’t chase peace. You embody it.
And when you’re in that state?
You become magnetic. Clear. Powerful.
💡 Want to Try It?
You don’t need a technique.
You don’t need a timer.
You don’t need to be “good” at it.
Just sit.
Just stop.
Just NOT.
Even two minutes is enough. Drop the to-do list. Let go of the productivity voice. Let go of the “shoulds.”
And instead, say to yourself:
“I’m allowed to NOT.”
“I don’t need to solve anything right now.”
“This is safe. I am safe.”
This is how we take our power back—from the inside out.
This is how we reset—not just our minds, but our frequency.
This is how we lead—clear, calm, and coherent.
✨ The New Movement Starts Here
If Mel Robbins has “Let them”…
Then maybe mine is this:
Let yourself NOT.
Try it. Share it. Live it.
And watch what happens when you give your nervous system a chance to come home to itself.
