What the Heck Is HRV and Why Should You Care About It?

Hey,

Most people don't listen to their bodies until something breaks.

Burnout. Exhaustion. Plateaus. That weird "off" feeling you can't explain.

But what if your body was already sending you signals long before the crash?

That's where HRV comes in.

What Is HRV?

HRV stands for Heart Rate Variability, and it's one of the most powerful tools for high performers, athletes, busy professionals, and anyone who wants to stop running on empty.

It doesn't tell you how fast your heart is beating.

It tells you how well your body is handling stress.

A higher HRV means your nervous system is adaptable and resilient.

A lower HRV means your system is under more strain, even if you're mentally "pushing through."

And here's the part most people miss:

Your body keeps score long before your mind admits it.

Why This Matters

As a nurse and peak performance coach, I've seen this play out over and over again.

The people who last the longest aren't the ones who ignore stress, they're the ones who learn how to read their body's signals and respond intelligently.

5 Ways to Support Your HRV Today

1. Slow down your breath.

Even 3–5 minutes of slow breathing with longer exhales can calm your nervous system.

2. Prioritize sleep like it's a board meeting.

No sleep = no recovery = lower HRV.

3. Train smart, not just hard.

Overtraining looks like discipline. But it shows up as lower HRV.

4. Get morning sunlight.

It regulates your nervous system, circadian rhythm, and stress response.

5. Become aware of emotional stress.

Your nervous system doesn't separate business stress from relationship stress. It just processes load.

The Bottom Line

If you care about your performance, in the gym, in business, or in life, you should care about how your nervous system is functioning.

And HRV is one of the clearest windows into that.

Your body isn't failing you. It's communicating with you.

The real question is: Are you listening?

A Note of Gratitude

As we head into Thanksgiving week, I want to pause and say thank you.

Thank you for being here. For showing up. For doing the work to take care of yourself even when it's hard.

I'm grateful for this community and for the opportunity to walk alongside you on your performance journey.

Wishing you a restful, restorative Thanksgiving.

Now, you can even find me on Instagram 

I read every message, and I love seeing what you're building for yourself.

Tee McConnell
Founder, The Human Side of Innovation™
Peak Performance by Tee