The hidden reason you might not be seeing results — even when you’re doing everything right
It felt like something must be missing.
I was doing the right things to support my health –
but not seeing the results I expected.
After a vague diagnosis of long covid – and being told it was “just age”,
I researched everything.
I had learned how to listen to my body.
Changed my diet.
Tried countless supplements.
Explored different remedies to see what helped.
And there were definite signs of improvement.
But… not enough.
It felt like I was riding the clutch –
both the accelerator and the brake on at the same time.
Maybe you can relate?
If you can, I want to share the hidden reason this was happening –
and the simple shift that helped.
The reason
I wouldn’t describe myself as anxious or a worrier.
In fact, I’ve always felt quite resilient – able to keep going with a cheerful smile, whatever life throws at me.
So when nervous system support and vagus nerve exercises started appearing everywhere, I didn’t immediately see myself in it.
But something made me take another look.
What I hadn’t realised
The nervous system and inflammation are closely linked.
When the body feels safe and relaxed, it can focus on repair – including calming inflammation.
But when the nervous system stays in alert mode, the body leans more towards protection.
And inflammation is part of that protective response.
Midlife changes aren’t caused by just one thing.
But research suggests that low-level inflammation is one of the key processes happening in the body at this stage of life.
And when I looked at my own symptoms, many of them could be described that way.
Why this can be easy to miss
The part that surprised me most was this.
I didn’t feel stressed.
Life had its demands, yes –
but there were also many good things happening.
Then I came across an idea that immediately resonated.
That the nervous system can act like a quiet guard on duty.
Listening.
Watching.
Ready to step in if needed.
Not overwhelmed.
Just… always on.
And for the first time, I could see it.
Maybe my body wasn’t fully switching off.
Maybe it was quietly waiting for “what next?” –
because it had learned to stay ready.
A quiet shift
I’ll be honest – that realisation changed how I saw things.
I began to feel a lot more empathy for my nervous system.
Not broken.
Not failing.
Just… working hard to protect me.
Why relaxation felt so difficult
Once this clicked, I set about supporting my nervous system.
I had a long list of exercises ready.
And…
I kept forgetting.
Didn’t have enough time.
And felt a quiet resistance when it was time to do them.
I kept trying – because I really did want to feel better.
And I knew relaxation was important.
But if I’m honest, I wasn’t sure if they were actually working.
The strangest part?
The exercises themselves were simple.
So why was it so difficult for my body to relax?
The moment everything changed
Then I remembered something.
For years, I had been able to meditate daily with no problem.
So what had made that feel easy?
There was one simple element that had always been part of my practice.
When I came back to that – on its own – everything changed.
It was like finding a switch.
Where before there had been resistance, now my body softened almost instantly.
For the first time in a long while, I could feel real relaxation again.
There was no second-guessing.
It felt familiar.
Natural.
Even enjoyable.
What I discovered
That experience made me curious.
Would the same thing work for everyone?
And the answer was… not exactly.
Because what I began to see was this:
There isn’t just one way the nervous system relaxes.
There are different pathways.
Different “switches”.
Over time, I could see six clear patterns in how people’s nervous systems responded to those pathways.
I call these nervous system signatures.
Each one reflects the kind of support your body responds to most easily –
the pathway that acts like a “switch” for your nervous system.
So it can move into rest… and allow repair to begin.
A simple way to find your relaxation switch
If any of this feels familiar,
you don’t need to figure it all out on your own.
Inside the free Make Self-Care Simple community,
this is where you begin to understand
what helps your body relax more easily –
and allow repair to begin
You’ll begin to see:
• the type of support your body responds to most easily
• how to recognise when your body is starting to settle
• and how to work with your nervous system, rather than against it
Alongside this, you’ll find a gentle exercise called the Drop Test –
a simple way to notice which type of support your body responds to most easily,
without having to try everything or second-guess yourself.
It’s not about getting it perfect.
Just finding a place to start.
👉 If you’d like to discover your relaxation switch and begin to understand what helps your body settle, you can explore it inside the free community here.
