The science is promising. Clinical studies have linked taVNS with improvements in heart rate variability, a recognised marker of nervous system health; as well as reductions in perceived stress and better sleep quality, although researchers agree larger, long-term studies are still needed before definitive conclusions can be made.

I used Nurosym for an hour every day for four weeks, usually first thing in the morning while answering emails, planning the day ahead or working through my ever-growing to-do list. As an editor and stylist, my days can be a constant stream of decisions, deadlines, messages and people needing something from me, so I liked the idea of starting the day by doing something that wasn’t about being more productive. The sensation itself is subtle, a gentle tingling around the ear that feels slightly strange for the first few minutes, but quickly becomes something you barely notice. Before long, it had become part of my morning routine, just like making coffee and doing my skincare. I didn’t have to carve out an hour to meditate or lie completely still; I could simply get on with my morning while, in theory, giving my nervous system a little extra support. And perhaps that was what made it so easy to stick with: it didn’t feel like another wellness task to tick off, but something I could easily incorporate into the routine I already had.