Happy Monday!
I've got a ridiculously busy week coming up,
including a keynote to Morgan Stanley from their offices in NYC that'll be
broadcast via satellite to their 80,000 employees across the world, I'm
speaking to 450 kids at a school in NYC, and more than one TV interview,
podcast interview, and the like.
So of course, 2am this morning found me and my
race car brain unable to sleep, focusing on everything I had upcoming over the
next five days. Since I was already up, I got on the bike, and while riding, dictated
ten ways for you to slow down your brain and decrease your anxiety, so you
don't find yourself on the Peloton at 2am tomorrow morning, too. Here we go.
1. Practice deep breathing exercises. Inhale
slowly and deeply, hold your breath for a few seconds, and exhale slowly.
Repeat this for a few minutes until you feel the stress start to dissipate.
2. Engage in physical exercise. Exercise
releases endorphins that can help reduce anxiety and stress. (He says, writing
this from his bike.)
3. Practice mindfulness meditation. Focus on
your breath and bring your attention to the present moment. All Apple and
Samsung watches have mindfulness features that will count down the time for you
to do this. It's useful.
4. Write down your worries. This can help you
to identify what you can control and what you can't. Can you change it? Yes?
Then do it. No? Then forget it. Writing it down shows you that in real time.
5. Practice progressive muscle relaxation.
Tense and relax each muscle group, starting from your toes and working your way
up to your head. I go from head to toe, but you do what works for you.
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6. Listen to calming music. This can help to
reduce anxiety and promote relaxation. Mozart for the win.
7. Take breaks from social media and news.
Constant exposure to negative news can increase anxiety levels. This is huge.
News is designed to get us tensed up and need to read more. I know. I once
worked for the largest tabloid newspaper in the world.
8. Spend time in nature. Being in nature can
have a calming effect on the mind and body. As I tell my daughter, "let's
go out and find a tree to hug."
9. Connect with loved ones. Talk about your
worries and concerns with someone you trust. Even a pet can do this for you.
10. Seek professional help. If anxiety is
impacting your daily life, consider speaking to a mental health professional
for support and guidance. I've had a therapist since I was 15. Best money I've
ever spent.
Other ideas? Let me hear them.
Have a great, productive, and relaxing week, my
friends.
-Peter
PS: The Boy With the Faster Brain makes a great gift for Moms,
dads, everyone! ;)
Peter Shankman is an entrepreneur, an author and a trainer living in New York City.
Other articles by Peter Shankman