HAPPILY HUM

Talk about an earworm: ‘The vagus nerve passes through the inner ear, so you can stimulate it by engaging in active listening to soothing music,’ says Arielle Schwartz, a clinical psychologist who specialises in resilience.

That can include not only a favourite song, but also an audiobook or a guided meditation of an especially calming voice. Soft, low sounds, like a cat’s purr, are inherently soothing.

Another way to tickle your vagus nerve? Generate sound on your own through singing or humming. That will tap into the nerve as it runs through your larynx and pharynx in the throat. (Bonus: your exhalation is also so much longer with these vocalisations.) Placing your hands over your ears will amplify the sensation of the sound, adds Schwartz.