What Nervous System Health Has to Do with Your Marketing With Ashlee Livingstone
May 24, 2025
Why Calm Minds Create Better Content
If you’ve ever tried to write a caption or film a Reel with your shoulders clenched up to your ears and your brain buzzing with to-dos, you're not alone. Content creation as a small business owner can feel chaotic—especially when you’re running on cortisol and caffeine.
In this episode of Content Magic, I sat down with Ashley Livingstone, nervous system expert and founder of the Mental Fitness Club, to talk about a rarely-discussed side of marketing: your nervous system. Because the truth is, great content isn’t just about strategy—it’s about alignment, energy, and regulation.
Let’s dig into what it really means to regulate your nervous system and how it impacts your content and creativity.
What Does Nervous System Regulation Have to Do with Content?
Everything.
If your mind is racing, your throat is tight, and your sleep is disrupted, chances are you’re living in a dysregulated state. As Ashley explains, being stuck in “go-go-go” mode (aka your sympathetic nervous system) is like trying to pour from a bone-dry cup. Nothing flows—not blood, not ideas, and certainly not content.
Ashley shares how identifying dysregulation is the first step. From tight muscles and clenched jaws to racing thoughts or snippy responses, these are red flags that your system is operating in survival mode. And when you're stuck there, creative inspiration is hard to access.
Practical Ways to Regulate (Even During a Busy Workday)
You don’t need a full spa day to regulate your nervous system. Ashley offers simple, intentional techniques you can do anywhere:
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Breathwork: Slow nasal breathing tells your body, "You're safe." Try just one deep inhale and exhale—it’s shockingly effective.
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Shaking it out: That buzzing energy? Move it out. Stand up, put on music, and shake—literally.
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Gentle swaying: Like when you rocked your babies or sway in line at the store. It grounds your body.
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Self-touch: Lightly rub your arms like a mini hug. It reconnects you to yourself.
The key is intentionality. Ashley emphasizes that you can get dysregulated unintentionally, but re-regulating requires presence and choice.
Calm Isn’t Always the Goal—Flow Is
Here’s the misconception: Regulation = stillness. But Ashley flips that narrative. You’re meant to move in and out of your nervous system states. That means sometimes you need to get activated—hello, pre-presentation power poses and solo dance parties!
What matters is that you don’t get stuck in any one state. Content creation, especially when you're stepping into visibility, might require more fire than calm. Find your flow, not someone else’s blueprint.
Content Creation in Alignment
One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation? Your content doesn’t need to look like someone else’s. B-roll girlies and batch queens might be winning Instagram, but that doesn’t mean you have to. If you're not someone who naturally documents your every move—don’t force it.
Ashley admits she’s not a “capture everything” person. She’s more present in the moment, less focused on filters. But that doesn't mean she doesn’t show up. She just does it her way—intentionally, thoughtfully, and in alignment with how she wants to feel.
And isn’t that the whole point?
Future You Is Already Aligned
If you’re telling yourself you don’t have time for content, Ashley drops a truth bomb: “You’ll only take action that aligns with what you believe you’re capable of.” If you don’t believe you have time, how are you going to make room for the clients and growth you say you want?
Future you—the one with a waitlist, clarity, and peace—believes differently. Start listening to her now.
Final Thoughts
Content creation isn’t just about writing, filming, or posting. It’s about showing up in a way that feels good, honest, and sustainable. Regulating your nervous system, identifying blocks, and trusting your own rhythms are all part of the creative process.
If you’re stuck in stress, start with one small step—maybe it’s breathwork, maybe it’s dancing like no one’s watching, or maybe it’s just saying: “I do have time.”