Splash your face with cool water
The mammalian dive reflex is hardwired into our brain and nervous system and is designed to keep us safe when we enter water. When this reflex is triggered:
We can trick our body to activate this reflex by splashing cool water on our face. This helps slow down our heart rate, breathe more deeply, and in turn, to calm down.
For best results, this strategy should be combined with a breathing exercise.
- Our heart rate decreases.
- Blood is redirected from our arms and legs, prioritising essential organs.
- Our spleen contracts, producing more red blood cells, allowing our blood to circulate oxygen more efficiently around the body.
We can trick our body to activate this reflex by splashing cool water on our face. This helps slow down our heart rate, breathe more deeply, and in turn, to calm down.
For best results, this strategy should be combined with a breathing exercise.