For many professionals, the pressure of their daily responsibilities can cause a lot of stress and anxiety. Not only will anxiety make it more difficult for you to perform your duties, but it’s also terrible for your health. To succeed in the modern business landscape, you need to make clear-headed decisions, so check out these three simple brain hacks to reduce anxiety and take back control of your life.
Keep a Journal
Writing about your troubles can be extremely cathartic and provide much-needed context for your negative feelings. In a 2018 study, subjects reported decreased symptoms of anxiety and depression after a month of recording daily journal entries. The patients in the study only had to write for 15 minutes per day to see significant mental health benefits. Clearly, journaling is one of the quickest and easiest methods for anyone to tackle their anxiety, so you should try to set aside a little time every day to write about your feelings.
Meditate
Meditation is a straightforward yet effective way to reduce anxiety and clear your mind. To meditate, you simply need to sit upright, close your eyes, and focus on your breathing as you let your thoughts wander. According to a recent study, employees who meditated for just 10 minutes per day claimed to feel less stress and anxiety after a 16-week period. This makes daily meditation one of the most feasible brain hacks for the busy entrepreneur.
Exercise
Cardio, resistance training, and most other kinds of exercise release endorphins and other stress-relieving hormones. Because of this, people who exercise often tend to feel less anxious. If you want to get the most out of your workouts, then you should consider incorporating high-intensity interval training (HIIT) into your workout routine. Researchers have found that six 40-minute HIIT sessions per week can significantly reduce feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression. Although HIIT was found to be more beneficial than other types of exercise, any workout will reduce anxiety to some extent. The most important thing is finding a workout plan that you can stick to.
Don’t Let Anxiety Hinder Your Success
Stress and anxiety can make life extremely difficult and hamper your workplace performance. Fortunately, using even one of these easy brain hacks will help you feel happier and more confident. Life’s too short to struggle with anxiety and other negative feelings, so check out our other guides on neuroscience and productivity if you want to overcome stress while achieving more at work.
