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August is National Wellness Month: Here Are Some Tips and Tools for Taking Care of Ourselves

August 6, 2025

Centering Our Wellness

At NCCASA, we know that advocacy work requires deep compassion, resilience, and a steady commitment to collective care. That’s why August’s National Wellness Month is a powerful reminder to intentionally  and consistently care for ourselves.

As advocates, our nervous systems are often navigating high levels of stress, emotional labor, and exposure to trauma. While we can't eliminate every stressor, we can learn to regulate our nervous systems in small, sustainable ways.

This month, we invite you to take a breath, ground yourself, and explore the importance of nervous system regulation.

What is Nervous System Regulation?

Your nervous system helps your body respond to stress. If you're constantly in “fight, flight, freeze, or fawn” mode, it can take a toll on your mental, emotional, and physical health.

Nervous system regulation is the process of returning your body to a state of calm and safety. Building regulation into your daily routine can help you feel more grounded and resilient especially for engaging in trauma-informed work.

5 Everyday Tools for Nervous System Support

Here are a few simple, accessible practices you can incorporate into your day-to-day:

1. Bilateral Stimulation

This involves engaging both sides of your body to calm your brain. You can:

  • Walk while swinging your arms
  • Tap your shoulders or knees alternately
  • Listen to audio that moves between the left and right ear (like in EMDR therapy)

Bilateral movement can help your brain process overwhelming emotions and settle into a sense of balance.

2. Orienting Back to the Present

Take 60 seconds to look around your space. Name:

  • 5 things you see
  • 4 things you can touch
  • 3 things you hear
  • 2 things you smell
  • 1 thing you taste or are grateful for

This grounds you in the present and reminds your body that you're safe.

3. Vagus Nerve Activation

The vagus nerve plays a key role in calming the body. Try:

  • Humming or singing
  • Gargling water
  • Taking long, slow exhales (try box breathing: inhale 4, hold 4, exhale 4, hold 4)

Even 1-2 minutes of intentional breathwork can shift your nervous system.

4. Co-Regulation

We are wired for connection. Being around safe, supportive people can help regulate your nervous system. This could look like:

  • Calling a friend/loved one
  • Sitting near someone you trust
  • Petting or caring for an animal
  • Making eye contact and smiling with someone you love

Community care is nervous system care.

5. Intentional Transitions for External Stressors 

Build in mini-rituals to help your body shift between tasks. For example:

  • Light a candle when logging off work
  • Stretch before driving home
  • Wash your hands with intention after a difficult conversation

These small acts signal to your body: “We’re moving on. We’re okay.”

Remember…

This month and every month, give yourself permission to care for your whole self—mind, body, and nervous system. Check in with what you need and make space for it without guilt. How we care for ourselves directly impacts how we care for each other. 

You're not alone in this work, and your wellness is essential to the movement.

Looking for more tools?

Here’s a list of free and low-cost nervous system regulation resources: