If you spend any time in the fitness world — or the broader personal and mental development space I’m in these days — you’ve probably heard people talk about the nervous system. There is a lot.
It shows up everywhere: in conversations about burnout, motivation, trauma, performance, and recovery. And while the nervous system is something importantly, they are often discussed in vague, complex, or just plain confusing ways.
So let’s make it simple.
For athletes (and anyone who moves their body regularly)The main role of the nervous system in training is not something mysterious or invisible. It’s about wake control – how alert, stressed, calm, or angry you are at any given time.
Learn to work with that, and training becomes better, performance improves, and longevity becomes more likely. Ignore it, and you’ll feel fried, flat, or sitting on edge.
What We Mean By “Nervous System” (No Anatomy Required)
Forget textbooks for a while.
A useful way to think of your nervous system is as gas pedal and brake.
-
The gas pedal goes up: alertness, intensity, focus, drive
-
The brake silences you: to recover, to digest, to repair, to restore
There is no good or bad. You need both.
When people get into trouble – athletes and non-athletes alike – you always have the gas pedal fully down, or have no idea how to get it when you need it.
Exercise Is a Stressor (And That’s Not a Problem)
One thing that often gets lost in the discussion of the nervous system is this: exercise should be stressful.
Hard intervals, heavy lifts, competition, learning new skills — all of these activate your nervous system. Heart rate increases. Concentration is reduced. Stress hormones increase.
That is not unemployment. That is adaptation.
The problem is not stress. The problem is that never give your system a chance to go back down.
When every workout is intense, every day is packed, and recovery is considered an optional bonus, your nervous system is stuck in a state of hyper-arousal. Over time, performance declines – even if your fitness numbers look good.
The Arousal Curve Everyone Lives By
There is a great place to work, and it works beyond sports.
-
At the very bottom: You feel lazy, unmotivated, flat. Everything feels harder than it should.
-
The highest: You are worried, tense, angry. Sleep suffers. The link is down.
-
That’s right: He is alert but calm. It’s tight but comfortable. It is enabled without forcing it.
High performers – whether in sports, work, or creative endeavors – don’t stay in that sweet spot. But they are good to find it if it is important.
It Shows Your Sensory System Is Out of Sync
This is not just about sore muscles.
Common symptoms include:
-
Feeling “fried” even if the exercise is not intense
-
You have trouble sleeping even though you are tired
-
It needs constant stimulation to move
-
Feeling emotionally stimulated during training
-
Losing motivation for activities you usually enjoy
This is not a personal failure. They are the answer.
Control is a skill you can train
Here’s the part that many people miss: control of the nervous system is not something you are born with. It is a a trainable skill.
When You Need a Ramp Up
Useful before hard efforts, competitions, or explosive work:
-
Short, powerful movements
-
Fast breathing
-
The music, the rhythm, the familiar ways
-
Small attention span, focused on work
This is how you make it work and feel to.
When You Need A Downshift
Key to long-term recovery, learning, and progress:
-
Slow breathing, especially long exhalations
-
Extended heating and cooling
-
Walking, walking, or light aerobic activity
-
Finish the sessions feeling like yourself he can do more
This is not soft or pale. It’s about being strategic.
The goal is not to stay calm or stay tense. To us match your nervous system state with the short-term goal.
Why This Is Important for Long-Term Performance
People who stay active for decades – whether they identify as athletes or not – are not the strongest. They are the most flexible.
- They know when to push and when to relax.
- They listen to the answer instead of writing it down.
- They don’t confuse consistency with commitment.
Understanding your nervous system doesn’t mean doing less. It means doing on the right value, at the right time, for the right reason.
That way you stay strong, engaged, and moving well for a long time.
