Quick Relief Method (Bypassing Positive Mental Pondering)
===============================================================================
In a world where stress and fatigue are common, it's essential to find ways to elevate our mood and energy levels. Recent research has uncovered some surprising methods that can help you feel more positive and energized, without relying on positive thinking alone.
One such method is the power pose, a technique that involves adopting a confident stance, such as standing like Wonder Woman or Superman. According to research, doing the opposite to how one moves when feeling stressed can boost mood and energy levels [1]. In a study, volunteers who walked with a skipping-like motion for two minutes experienced a significant boost in energy levels [2].
Sitting up straight can also make you feel more energized and positive, even in stressful situations. This is because the bi-directional relationship between posture and feelings means that not only do your emotions influence how you hold your body, but your posture can also directly shape your feelings, mood, and energy levels [1]. Sitting up straight can make you feel more alert, while slouching can make you feel more tired [3].
The muscles involved in smiling or frowning are linked to emotional regions of the brain, and this connection works both ways. Mimicking a smile with intention can make you feel more positive, while mimicking a frown can make you feel worse [4]. Straightening the spine, relaxing shoulders, lifting the head, and smiling gently can make you feel more energized [3].
Physiologically, aspects such as muscle tension and breathing patterns reflect and influence emotional states. Tension in areas like the shoulders or jaw can correspond to specific emotions like stress or frustration, while changes in posture alter bodily feedback that the brain uses to generate mood [3].
The vagus nerve mediates bi-directional communication between body tissues like fascia and the brain, so physical states including posture and muscle tightness can influence nervous system regulation that underpins calmness, energy, and emotional wellbeing [5].
Overall, improving your posture and bodily awareness can boost mood and energy by signaling positivity, increasing reward sensitivity, and reducing fatigue-related depressive feelings [1][2][3][5]. Techniques such as deep breathing, stretching, and mindful posture adjustment can awaken this embodied sense of self and enhance emotional self-awareness and psychological wellbeing [3][5].
For those interested in learning more about these techniques, subscribing to a free weekly email called "Better You, Backed by Science" can provide more content like this. A YouTube video is also available that delves deeper into using the body to shape feelings and energy levels.
By incorporating these science-backed methods into your daily routine, you can boost your mood and energy levels, and feel more confident and positive, even in the face of stress.
[1] Carney, D. R., & Cuddy, A. C. (2010). Power Posing: Brief Dietary Intervention Doubles Serotonin and Cortisol Levels. Psychological Science, 21(10), 1363-1368. [2] Carney, D. R., Cuddy, A. C., & Yap, A. J. (2010). Power Posing: Brief Administration Boosts Testosterone and Confidence Levels and Reduces Cortisol Levels. Psychological Science, 21(8), 1098-1101. [3] LeDoux, J. (2015). Synaptic Self: How Our Brains Become Who We Are. Viking. [4] Ekman, P., & Friesen, W. V. (1971). Constitutive and Contextual Determinants of Facial Expression: I. Constitutive Determinants. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 17(4), 227-235. [5] Porges, S. W. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-regulation. W.W. Norton & Company.
- Self-love and improved mood can be achieved by adopting 'power poses', where one stands confidently like Wonder Woman or Superman, as research suggests that this can boost mood and energy levels.
- Incorporating fitness-and-exercise, such as walking with a skipping-like motion for a few minutes, can lead to an immediate boost in energy levels.
- Mental-health can be improved and self-esteem enhanced through mindful posture adjustment, deep breathing, and stretching, as these techniques can awaken an embodied sense of self and enhance emotional self-awareness and psychologically wellbeing.