The benefits of listening to music are manifold.
Whether you are looking to help soothe anxiety, lull yourself to sleep, or increase your concentration, there is a playlist for everything.
[Read more…] about Music: The Great Equalizer
Thought Stopping
Thought stopping technique is so ridiculously simple, that it is impossible to understand its power until you implement it on a regular basis.
This is the gist: if you find your mind wandering down any rabbit holes that have the potential to throw off your equanimity, stop the thoughts in their tracks. [Read more…] about Thought Stopping
Replace “What If” With “What Is”
If I find myself in a situation that is stressing me out, I make sure I swap any “what if” thoughts with “what is.”
I need to credit Soar: The Breakthrough Treatment for Fear of Flying, which was instrumental in helping me get back on an airplane after an 8-year fear-induced hiatus, for this awesome tactic.
More on flying another time.
Executing the “what is” technique is simple. The goal is to surround yourself with facts and data and look at what is actually happening rather than trusting the stories that your brain is manufacturing.
[Read more…] about Replace “What If” With “What Is”
Hydration Is Your Friend
I drink a lot of water. Probably about 100oz. a day.
Keeping a bottle of water at arm’s length has always been helpful for me. At the very least, it gives me something to fumble with if I need a quick distraction. [Read more…] about Hydration Is Your Friend
The Early Morning Smile
When I wake up in the morning, I smile.
That doesn’t mean I always wake up happy. Or that smiling is the first thing that pops into my brain.
But I do it. Everyday. No matter what.
The Power of Slow
When I transitioned my career from Manhattan to Long Island, the most remarkable difference was the pace at which people worked…and walked.
Those first few weeks I would catch myself flying down the hallways. For what? Absolutely nothing. It was a silly habit.
Same thing with the commute. I would find myself in a frenzy if I missed a red light or another driver cut me off. Even when the reality was I had plenty of time to spare. [Read more…] about The Power of Slow
My Mantra
Confident. Fit. Focused.
That’s my mantra.
And I agree, it doesn’t roll off the tongue like “Om.”
But it’s mine. Part of me.
It also might actually belong to a bunch of karate students, too, because I’m pretty sure I lifted it from a storefront I once passed. [Read more…] about My Mantra
Cardio, Lots of Cardio
When I would complain to my psychotherapist that I was having trouble finding the time to exercise, he would simply say, “20 minutes of cardio…with sweat.”
And thus my benchmark was set.
I strive to do cardio a minimum of 4x a week at 20 minutes a clip with the goal of breaking a sweat. I wear a heart rate monitor to ensure that I get up into the “cardio zone.” [Read more…] about Cardio, Lots of Cardio
The Perfect Deep Breath
Life starts with a breath. And so does equanimity.
The ability to breathe deeply in order to calm ourselves is a skill we all possess. It’s innate. Many of us just lose the capacity somewhere along the way.
Breathing is easy to take for granted!
So how do you nail the perfect deep breath to restore balance? Here’s what works for me. [Read more…] about The Perfect Deep Breath