“Your calm mind is the ultimate weapon against your challenges. So relax.”

— Bryant McGill

Worry is a part of life, but don’t let it overwhelm you. Nothing kills inspiration and productivity like fear and anxiety. But you know what the worst part is? They’re contagious. When you walk about on pins and needles, it doesn’t just put a damper on your work, it stresses out everyone around you. The whole thing can become a vicious cycle of misery and frustration. The answer? Centered calm. Take some time, be it a few moments or a half hour, to empty your mind. Bask in silence for just a bit, release your troubles. Taking time to do this throughout the day will allow you to return to your task at hand with clarity and focus.

Time to relax

• “In IKEA’s new 25-minute digital ad, the build-it-yourself furniture company has capitalized on the growing popularity of ASMR (or the autonomous sensory meridian response, for the uninitiated). This ‘delicious, tingly’ sensation — brought on by whispers, hair brushing, and other soothing sounds — has sparked the video careers of millions of YouTube ‘ASMRtists.’” – IKEA Surprises ASMR Fans With Ultra-Soothing, 25-Minute Ad
• “Stress can actually be positive, as the stress response help us stay alert, motivated and focused on the task at hand. Usually, when the pressure subsides, the body rebalances and we start to feel calm again. But when we experience stress too often or for too long, or when the negative feelings overwhelm our ability to cope, then problems will arise. Continuous activation of the nervous system – experiencing the ‘stress response’ – causes wear and tear on the body.” – How Your Body Reacts to Stress
• “The secret to sustainable behavior change is first to identify what you want to do, not what you or others think you should do. For example, do you want to be a more empathetic leader? Get at least seven hours of sleep a night? Run a more productive meeting? Your desire will help you take action.” – How To Build Better Habits For Stressful Environments
• Doctors have learned that sudden emotional stress can lead to a heart attack or another serious cardiac problem. ‘People who have chronic heart problems need to avoid acute stress — and learn how to successfully manage life’s unavoidable stresses — as much as they can,’ WebMD notes. ‘Stress doesn’t only make us feel awful emotionally,’ Jay Winner, MD, director of the Stress Management Program for Sansum Clinic in Santa Barbara, California, told WebMD. ‘It can also exacerbate just about any health condition you can think of.’ – National Relaxation Day 2017: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know
• “Dominoes make sense for a playful building project: They require both a sense of imagination and careful attention to each individual piece. One quiver of the wrong block and the entire thing could come crumbling down. Matthias Wandel has the attentive hands needed to not just set up dominos, but to get a machine to set them up for him.” – Nothing’s More Soothing Than a DIY Wooden Domino Setting Machine

Enjoy your weekend 🙂