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The Healf Source
Trying To Reset Your Vagus Nerve? Try This Step-By-Step Guide For A Full Recalibration
Life is stressful and chaotic. Taking intentional time to reset this essential nerve is easier than you might imagine.
Written by: Ed Cooper
Written on: April 8, 2026
Better sleep, calmer digestion and a steadier mood and a quicker return to baseline after stress: these are the kinds of shifts people report when they start paying attention to the vagus nerve — a mysterious biological mechanism that has only recently started to get a spotlight in the wellbeing world. Yet, this quietly powerful nerve plays a central role in how we regulate everything from heart rate to inflammation, making it one of the most accessible entry points into our autonomic nervous system.
What’s most striking about the vagus nerve, however, is how accessible and able to be influenced it is. You don’t necessarily need specialised equipment or expensive, hour-long holistic wellness routines. Instead, many of the most effective techniques are simple, repeatable, and already woven into everyday life, whether through breathing, cold exposure, vocal use, or social interaction.
Here, Healf explores what we already know about the vagus nerve, what “vagal tone” actually means in practical terms, and the evidence-backed ways to reset this key nerve so you can start reaping the wellbeing rewards.
What is the vagus nerve?
The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve in the body that forms a central part of your parasympathetic nervous system (the 'rest and digest' system), says Steve Allder, consultant neurologist at Re:Cognition Health. The nerve runs from the brainstem through the neck and into the chest and abdomen.
Rather than acting as a single pathway, the vagus nerve is “a complex communication network linking the brain with key organs including the heart, lungs and gut," says Dr. Allder. Think of it as the body’s built-in communication line between the brain and major organs — a two-way system that tells your body when to ramp up, when to slow down, and when it’s safe to relax.
The vagus nerve is actually essential for maintaining homeostasis, and allows the body recover from stress, and regulate vital functions (think: heart rate, digestion and immune response), Dr. Allder adds. "Vagal tone" refers to the activity of the vagus nerve, and a strong vagal tone is associated with greater resilience, emotional regulation and cardiovascular health, says Dr Allder. “In clinical terms, it plays a crucial role in regulating autonomic function, helping the body shift out of stress responses and into a calmer, more regulated state.”
How do you know when your vagus nerve needs resetting?
Anxiety, chronic inflammation, and lowered stress tolerance are all directly linked to vagus nerve dysfunction, but there’s no single diagnostic test that declares the vagus nerve might need a “reset." Instead, there will be certain clues — both clinical and experiential — that show it's not operating as well as it could. One of the most widely used markers is heart rate variability (HRV), a measure of how flexibly your nervous system shifts between stress and recovery. As Dr. Allder explains, the vagus nerve helps mediate the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, noting that “persistently low HRV may suggest reduced vagal function.”
In simpler terms, low HRV reflects a nervous system that has lost some of its flexibility, partly as a result of low vagal tone.
The vagus nerve is also deeply involved in regulating mood, inflammation, and overall physiological balance, Dr. Allder says, so when it’s not working optimally, you may notice you feel wound-up for no obvious reason, struggle to relax, or take far longer to physically recover after stress. This can show up in very everyday ways: a sense of being constantly overstimulated, difficulty switching off in the evening, or a baseline tension that doesn’t quite lift.
As the vagus nerve forms “a complex communication network linking the brain with key organs including the heart, lungs and gut,” changes often echo through digestion and sleep as well. Bloating, bowel irregularity, shallow or tight breathing, and disrupted nights can all be signs that the body is finding it harder to shift into what Dr. Allder calls “a calmer, more regulated state.”
It’s also important to keep this language in perspective. “‘Resetting’ isn’t a medical term,” he notes. It's just a way of describing efforts to support the parasympathetic system so it can regain responsiveness. In practice, it’s less about rebooting something that’s broken and more about nudging the body back toward the balance it’s built for.
How do you 'reset' the vagus nerve?
If you’re feeling these symptoms, the good news is that there are multiple ways to get your vagus nerve back to regularly scheduled programming. “Improving vagal tone involves engaging the parasympathetic system through specific, evidence-informed practices,” says Dr. Allder.
Here are a few great ways to do that:
Breathing
“Slow, controlled breathing, particularly with extended exhales, has been shown to increase vagal activity by influencing heart rate variability,” says Dr. Allder, who recommends a breathing pattern that uses a prolonged exhale, like a 4:6 or 4:8 inhale-to-exhale ratio. This, he says, “is one of the most evidence-supported methods, particularly in managing anxiety, stress-related disorders and cardiovascular regulation.”
How to do it: Inhale for four seconds, then exhale slowly for six or eight seconds. Repeat.
Cold water exposure
Whether it’s splashing your face with cold water after waking up or jumping into an ice-cold bath or shower, cold water exposure is one of the most popular ways to give your body a jump-start — and Dr. Allder is on board with this as a vagus nerve "reset."
“Cold water exposure, such as brief cold showers or face immersion, may activate the diving reflex, enhancing parasympathetic response,” he explains, advising to start in a “gradual and controlled” way.
How to do it: Try a cold plunge (a nearby ocean or lake will do!), taking a cold shower first thing in the morning, or simply splashing your face with cold water.
Vocalisation
Used correctly, vocalisation techniques can have a significant effect on the vagus nerve’s stimulation. Using your vocal cords can create vibrations in the throat and chest, which activate the laryngeal nerve and connects to the parasympathetic nervous system.“Simple actions like humming, chanting, or gargling can provide gentle stimulation" and stimulate the vagus nerve via the muscles in the throat, says Dr. Allder. Humming, in particular, “may also increase nitric oxide production in the nasal passages, which has secondary benefits for circulation and respiratory health.”
How to do it: Inhale deeply, then hum a steady note as you exhale (some people might do this on an "Om" sound). Repeat this for 2-3 minutes while paying attention to the vibrations in your chest. You can also just try gargling some water.
Social connection
Regular and uplifting social connection can play a powerful role in how your vagus nerve operates, with a trickle-down effects on emotional regulation pathways. “Positive, supportive relationships can enhance parasympathetic activity, reducing cortisol levels and improving emotional regulation,” says Dr. Allder. “From a clinical perspective, this highlights that nervous system regulation is not purely physiological but deeply relational, reinforcing the importance of meaningful human connection in overall health.”
How to do it: This one is simple, but can sometimes get away from us in our busy lives. Set aside dedicated time each week for a solid catch-up with friends and family. In person. Around a good meal. However you do it, make sure to get your dose of social connection.
By the way, if you're looking for other ways to stimulate your vagus nerve, check out our guide.
Building your daily vagal nerve reset routine
Consistency always beats intensity when it comes to the nervous system. You don’t need to retreat to a Himalayan cave to see results; the goal is to weave short bursts of regulation into your existing schedule. Think of these tools as a physiological toolkit you can dip into whenever you feel your baseline shifting toward fight-or-flight mode.
Morning
Kickstart your morning with a cold water splash. After brushing your teeth, splash your face with ice-cold water three to five times. This “activates the so-called diving reflex,” says Dr. Allder. “This reflex slows the heart rate and redirects blood flow, increasing parasympathetic activity.”
Afternoon
During your lunch break or your commute home, spend a few minutes humming to your favourite track. “Humming may also increase nitric oxide production in the nasal passages, which has secondary benefits for circulation and respiratory health,” says Dr. Allder.
Evening
Prioritise meaningful connection, whether it’s a phone call with a friend, playing with a pet, or a device-free conversation with a partner. Lower cortisol levels, improved emotional regulation, and enhanced parasympathetic activity will soon follow.
This article is for informational purposes only, even if and regardless of whether it features the advice of physicians and medical practitioners. This article is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice. The views expressed in this article are the views of the expert and do not necessarily represent the views of Healf
Ed is a freelance journalist and former Men’s Health digital editor, with bylines in Red Bull, BBC StoryWorks, Guardian Labs, Third Space, Natural Fitness Food and Form Nutrition, among others. Having run marathons, conducted sleep experiments on himself and worked with some of the world’s most in-demand experts — from sleep scientists and strength athletes to high-performance trainers and elite-level nutritionists — one thing remains clear for The Healf Source contributor: fitness trends come and go, but as long as you keep turning up for yourself, consistency will win every time.
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