What’s one simple thing you can do anytime, anywhere that is scientifically proven to reduce your stress level, improve your mood, and make it easier for you to concentrate? A breathing exercise. Scientists have shown that by slowing and controlling your breath, and in particular, making your exhalations longer than your inhalations, you can automatically slow your heartbeat. And doing a breathing exercise for 60 seconds is long enough to achieve these benefits. Source: Inc Health.com recently put together a list of nine breathing techniques for reducing anxiety. I’ve tried most of them myself, among many others. Any of them should create a feeling of calm and clear your mind to help you tackle […]
Reading fiction doesn’t just boost emotional intelligence, concentration, and critical thinking. It also helps prevent memory loss. If you’re a busy entrepreneur, sitting down with a novel might seem like nothing more than a light and enjoyable way to unwind. But science suggests fiction offers our brains a lot more than just distraction and stress relief. Source: Inc Research suggests that deep, concentrated reading–the kind we do when we sink deeply into a great novel–builds key mental skills like focus and empathy as well as the ability to sift through complicated information and analyze conflicting arguments. Reading doesn’t just fill our brains with images and ideas. It actually rewires how we think about them. All of which adds up […]
Organizations have to pivot their corporate culture if they wish to survive and thrive in the world of virtual collaboration after the pandemic. To adapt to the hybrid and remote future of work, leaders need to benchmark and adapt best practices based on external research, as I learned from my interviews with 47 mid-level and 14 senior leaders I guided through the transition to the future of work. Source: Forbes Why Did Corporate Culture Suffer During the Pandemic? Culture refers to the social and emotional glue that bonds employees together into a community of belonging, motivates employees, and protects against burnout. It includes the norms and practices that determine how people collaborate. It also involves the values that guide the community of […]
These moves will keep your lower body strong and powerful.As you grow older, preserving strength in your lower body becomes more important than ever. To help us learn more about the top-recommended exercises for lower-body strength as you age, we spoke to Tonal coach Tanysha Renee.When it comes to lower-body strength, Renee explains, “Evidence has linked leg strength with longevity … One thing to note is that it’s not simply the mass of a person’s leg but, specifically, how strong the muscles are that lend to a longer lifespan.” Source: Eat This, Not That! According to Harvard Health Publishing, if you don’t incorporate strength training into your exercise routine, you can lose anywhere from four […]
Meditation and mindfulness are popular techniques used to boost mental health and clarity. Even better, science backs them as viable therapies for various mental wellness concerns including anxiety, stress and depression. The two concepts are often conflated, but while they are similar, mindfulness and meditation are practiced differently and can have varying functions. Learn more about how they differ, how they can benefit you and how to start your own mindfulness or meditation routine. Source: Forbes What Is Mindfulness and Meditation? Mindfulness and meditation are similar and linked; mindfulness is sometimes referred to as a type of meditation, and vice versa. The exercises “work hand in hand,” says Peter Brooks, […]
If waking up at 4 a.m. isn’t for you, there are other ways to set yourself up for a fast start. Source: Inc. Would you like to get a jump start on your day and keep yourself in a high state of productivity all day, every day? Before you start your work routine at your normal earthly time, consider this: many of the world’s most successful founders and CEOs (think Apple’s Tim Cook) have an edge because they’re starting their day at a time when the rest of us are still asleep. How early are we talking? As I covered here, 4 a.m. may be the most productive time of the day, because there are minimal distractions before […]
Your brain health is just as important as the health of other parts of your body. We know that professional football players and boxers suffer brain damage from constant punches to the head. But research also shows that work stress causes structural changes in the brain circuitry that can cause long-term harm on the nervous system. Chronic job stress such as an abusive boss, sexual harassment, a bully coworker or a work culture that thrives on crisis, chaos and pressure are examples of stress that can cause atrophy of the brain mass and decrease in brain weight. Source: Forbes The 2022 Brain Health Report It’s a no-brainer that most people, whether they […]
How to make a real positive difference in your relationships, Source: Psychology Today Key Points: Friends who don’t actually reveal their true selves to you may not be real friends, since you never really know who they are. A “real” important criterion to use when looking for a friend or a partner is how real that person is being to you. Being real to each other can result in close, meaningful relationship and help you better understand and support each other. It takes guts and inner confidence to reveal your true self. But in the long run, it can make a real positive difference. Are your friends showing you their […]
Take time to remove these energy-draining items from your business. Source: Inc Entrepreneurship is a growth experience. But while you’re constantly focused on expansion, you may be inadvertently overlooking items that cause your business to contract. In fact, a consistent push forward at all costs way of thinking can prevent even the most-savvy entrepreneurs from growing. If you really want to make a difference in your business’s future success, it’s worth your time and effort to declutter unnecessary items from your day-to-day routines. Here are five tips to help you declutter unwanted, worn-out, and stagnant items in your business. 1. Declutter your mindset. The single most important thing that will determine your future success […]
Want to sleep your way to better ideas, judgment, and execution? Research shows that dream is a reality. Source: Inc You probably know that sleep helps you learn faster and improves your memory. For example, imagine you need to remember a pitch or presentation: A 2016 study published in Psychological Science found that people who studied before bed, slept, and then did a quick review the next morning not only spent less time studying, they also increased their long-term retention by 50 percent. (Sleeping on it not only helps your brain file away what you’ve learned, it makes that information easier to access.) But there’s an arguably even better reason to get a good night’s sleep, especially if you’re an entrepreneur. […]