To help you recharge and enter this spring season full of calm, tranquility, and confidence, we found the smartest science-backed ways to bring the Zen.
_____
1. Meditate and Move
Why it works: This two-punch mind-body solution is proven to reduce negative thoughts. Exercise and meditation, done twice weekly for two months, reduced depression symptoms by 40 percent in student study participants, according to Translational Psychiatry.
Make it happen: Start with 30 minutes of focused attention meditation (FAM): Clear your mind by paying full attention to a chosen object or your breathing. Follow this with 30 minutes of aerobic exercise, which researchers believe creates new neurons in your brain’s hippocampus, helping the meditation lessons to really stick.
2. Find Meaning in Your Job
Why it works: There are three things that contribute to job happiness, according to a study done by researchers at the University of Alabama: 1) Finding your work meaningful and believing that it helps your company achieve its goals. 2) Feeling freedom in your role to do your job (in other words: no micromanaging). 3) Being allowed to create your own job description based on what suits your skills (known as “job crafting”).
Make it happen: First, consider your current role and determine if your job meets the three conditions outlined above. If not, use your yearly performance review meeting to discuss your job description with your manager, and come prepared with how you can mold the role to your skills and passions in ways that benefit you and the company’s bottom line.
3. Keep Strict Office Hours
Why it works: Research suggests that taking time away from work—not just physically out of the office, but truly unplugged—gives you a chance to recharge and come back revitalized and more productive.
Make it happen: Set clear expectations for your coworkers and boss. Re-emphasize your dedication to your role, and let them know that if they’ve missed you at the end of the day, they can rest assured that you’ll be there for them first thing in the morning.
4. Support Others
Why it works: Scientists recently learned that giving support may have unique positive effects on key brain areas involved in stress and reward responses. According to a new study in Psychosomatic Medicine, cheering up others can improve your health by reducing activity in stress-related regions during nerve-wracking experiences.
Make it happen: Next time you’re feeling anxious, reach out to a family member or friend and ask how they’re doing. It will take the pressure off of what you’re going through and help you focus on problem solving. Even a thoughtful gift (like a symbolic PRODUCT(RED) Heart of Strength Charm Bangle or a piece from the ethereal Divine Guides Collection can let someone know you’re thinking of them during their difficult time.
Written by Yelena Shuster
