6 Psychology hacks that actually work

Do you often feel that your brain thinks about a million things in just a second so much so that you find it damn difficult to pull back your focus to important things? It is not just exhausting, but this non-stop chatter is often the most overwhelming thing one can experience. Well, here are some easy and practical hacks one can follow to tame the brain and channelize the emotions in a positive way. Read on and try putting these simple hacks that work like a manual for the brain into practice.

There are people who are often rigid, and if you are trying to get someone to open up or tell you the truth, then waiting and pausing for the moment is the best weapon. Most of us are terrified of that awkward silence, but our brains are wired to want to fill it. When you stop talking and just watch, the other person’s brain works overtime to bridge the gap. Usually, they will end up sharing more than they originally intended just to make the silence go away.

Whenever you are overwhelmed, your amygdala (the emotional alarm system) is screaming for help. A simple way to shut the chatter is to engage your "thinking brain." You can do this by simply saying the feeling out loud in two words: "I'm frustrated" or "I’m overwhelmed." This tiny act literally holds the power to shift your energy from the panic mode to the logic mode of your brain and brings clarity.

This one may sound a bit strange until you try it! Whenever you feel that you are stressed or anxious, this feeling keeps you trapped inside chaos. Instead, use your own name and you have got this or you will sail through doing this. This creates what psychologists call 'self-distancing. ' It’s like stepping back from a painting to see it better; you create just enough space between you and the feeling to handle it objectively.

Worried and anxious? Then give your brain a 10-minute "Worry Window." Set a timer, sit down, and let yourself absolutely spiral. Go to the worst-case scenario. When the timer dings, close the chatter and move on. When your brain knows it will get its dedicated turn to worry later, it stops looping the same thoughts all day long.

As per experts, research also shows that just by naming an emotion one can reduce its intensity by up to 50%. So, you don't always have to fix the problem or push the feeling away; you can simply look at it and name it. Emotions that are "seen" lose their grip much faster than the ones we try to hide or ignore.

Struggling with a hard time or in a bad mood, the world looks like a series of problems. If you change the lens, the same life suddenly looks full of solutions and perspective. Before you try to fix your entire life, try shifting your lens first; simply put in efforts to look at the positive side of things, and it will give you clarity and the ability to move on.