So, with this in mind, do the experts consider a parasympathetic day – as opposed to regularly engaging in parasympathetic-promoting activities – advisable? Ultimately, both recommend doing what works best for you, your body and your current circumstances.

“There is research to support that having lazy days is good for us,” says Vignola. “However, I would say that we should learn to listen to our bodies. For instance, some weeks we may need more rest days than just one, and other weeks we may feel like we want to get up and move on the weekend. I think it’s important to do as we feel and not restrict ourselves to do something just because it’s a trend.”

She suggests that learning coping mechanisms for managing stress in the moment may help you shift more effectively between both nervous systems so you don’t build up a figurative backlog of overwhelm to wade through. “Say, for example, you get cut off in traffic and that triggers a stressful response. Doing a breathing technique afterwards can help you recover from that stress so you don’t carry it into the rest of your day,” says Vignola.

Other useful techniques to have in your nervous system toolkit include mindfulness, progressive muscle relaxation and hand warming.

On the brink of burnout? It might be time to schedule a ‘parasympathetic day’