Emily McDonald shares three neuroscience-backed ways to cut stress: the physiological sigh (two quick inhales, long exhale) dumps CO2 fast. Walking triggers eye movements that calm your amygdala. Music at 528 Hz or 432 Hz lowers cortisol, and the track Weightless reportedly reduces anxiety by 65%.
Two inhales followed by a long exhale.
About 30 seconds.
The amygdala.
528 Hz.
432 Hz.
Here are three hacks that I use as a neuroscientist to reduce stress and anxiety. Number one is a physiological sigh. It's two inhales followed by a long exhale. It allows you to offload carbon dioxide and if you do it for about 30 seconds you should notice a difference immediately. Tip number two is to go for a walk or to do some sort of bilateral stimulation because when we move forward our eyes make subconscious side to side movements which turn down activity in the amygdala and the amygdala is associated with anxiety and negative emotional states. And tip number three is to listen to anxiety. Reducing music. 528 Hz has been shown in a small study to reduce cortisol. And cortisol is a stress hormone so it can be great for reducing anxiety. 432Hz frequency music has been shown to boost alpha waves in the brain which promote a sense of calm. And the song Weightless by Marconi Union was produced for the purpose of reducing anxiety and was shown in a study to reduce anxiety by 65%. And I'm adding a bonus number four in the caption because three just wasn't enough.
