What Your Nervous System Needs on the Day of a Big Event
EVENT DAYS CAN BE EXCITING — AND ALSO DEEPLY ACTIVATING FOR YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM
Weddings, launches, performances, moves, first days — event days carry energy, anticipation and exposure. Even when something is joyful, the nervous system may perceive it as unfamiliar or unsafe.
You might feel overstimulated, flat, emotional or completely fine until something tips your system. On these days, nervous system awareness becomes your anchor — helping you move through the experience with steadiness, self-trust and grace.
WHY BIG DAYS IMPACT YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM DIFFERENTLY
High-stakes or high-visibility moments activate your stress response, even when you're well-prepared. Excitement and anxiety run through the same pathways — so regulation is key to staying clear and grounded.
- In Regulation, the day feels full but manageable
- In Activation, there’s a rush of energy, nervousness or urgency
- In Depletion, fatigue, emotional flatness or dissociation may arise
- In Overload, everything can feel like too much — your system may shut down or freeze
Identifying your state allows you to support your needs before you're overwhelmed.
STATE SPECIFIC SUPPORT FOR BIG EVENT DAYS
In Regulation — Protect the Balance
You’re in a good state — the focus is on not overextending or abandoning yourself in the momentum of the day.
- Supportive habits: Build in breaks between interactions, hydrate consistently
- Micro ritual: Place a hand on your heart and ask, “What do I need to stay grounded?”
- Anchor with: Consistent pacing and a quiet moment of stillness before the day begins
In Activation — Channel Energy With Breath and Movement
There’s adrenaline, urgency and a heightened sense of pressure. The key is to discharge the energy without spinning out.
- Supportive habits: Walk while breathing slowly, listen to calming music
- Micro ritual: Inhale for 4, exhale for 6, and say “I am allowed to slow down”
- Anchor with: Rhythmic breath, gentle tapping or grounding scent
In Depletion — Nourish Without Overcommitting
You may feel tired, emotionally muted or overwhelmed by what's expected of you. Go for ease, not effort.
- Supportive habits: Keep food and water accessible, delegate when possible
- Micro ritual: Rub your hands together and hold them to your cheeks
- Anchor with: Weighted items, warm tones and soft light
In Overload — Reduce Input and Reconnect to Self
Your system may feel frozen or completely overstimulated. Privacy and quiet become essential.
- Supportive habits: Step outside alone, lower visual and auditory input
- Micro ritual: Sit on the floor and breathe into your lower back
- Anchor with: Darkness, stillness and non-verbal self-reassurance
REGULATION PRACTICES TO PREP FOR EVENT DAYS
- Decide in advance what your energetic limits are
- Choose a touchstone phrase (e.g., “I can enjoy this and still protect my peace”)
- Prepare a simple post-event wind-down routine
- Have a regulation ally — someone who knows your nervous system needs
YOU’RE ALLOWED TO ENJOY YOUR BIG MOMENT — AND TEND TO YOUR BODY, TOO
You don’t have to perform joy. You don’t have to hold it all together. You get to be a whole human — feeling, shifting and self-aware — even when others are watching.
Nervous system care is self-trust in action. And self-trust is what allows you to show up as your fullest self — not just for the moment, but far beyond it.
Where to Start
The statechanged Method Workbook includes event-day regulation tips, energetic boundaries and recovery rituals tailored to your state.
Take the Free Nervous System Assessment Quiz to identify your current state and choose what your system actually needs on days that matter.
Our Digital Downloads feature pre-event grounding audio tools and post-event decompression practices — so you can regulate before, during and after.