When you are next presented with a stressful situation, be it speaking in public or playing sport in a tournament, this tip may prove helpful.
Clench your left fist, as you would if you were holding a stress ball, for a minute before the event and then release it – that’s it! You can use a stress ball if you find it more comfortable and have one to hand.
Although there is on-going controversy about left brain/right brain thinkers, researchers found in a study using skilled athletes that those who clenched their left fist prior to competing performed the same or better whilst those who clenched their right were more likely to choke under pressure. The reasoning was that the left hand side of the body is believed to be connected to the right hemisphere of the brain. This is the side of the brain associated with automatic movements. Clenching your left fist will also constrain the left hemisphere of your brain which is considered to be the language area and responsible for rumination and worrying thoughts.
So by reducing your worrying thoughts about the event and encouraging your automatic movements, clenching that left fist may well be the route to an improved performance next time you have to deliver a well-rehearsed but anxiety-inducing skill.
(Note – There was a caveat that the study focused on right-handed people as the relationship between different parts of the brain isn’t as well understood for left-handed people – may still be worth a try though?)
Categories
Recent articles on our blog....
For Autumn 2024 – 6 new training courses to aid workplace wellbeing
We introduce six new training courses which are now available for in-house delivery. All are delivered by experienced trainers who are experts in their field. The courses encompass emotional intelligence, growth leadership, interviewing skills and techniques, managing a hybrid workforce effectively, proactive stress management, and designing and implementing inclusive recruitment selection processes.
Read More →Tips to help individuals and managers reduce productivity anxiety
It can be easy to feel worried or stressed that we aren’t getting through our workload as effectively as we think we should. In this post, we look at some practical actions both individuals and managers can take to help reduce feelings of anxiety relating to our productivity.
Read More →Testimonials
Our purpose is to provide training and consultancy services to enhance resilience, health and wellbeing in the workplace.
Differentiation is one of the most strategic and tactical activities in which companies most constantly engage
It's natural to have questions about training and how it fits with your organisation. Our FAQs can help you find out more.
View case studies for some of the in-house training courses we have delivered to different types of organisations across the UK.