For the day, five sector SPDR exchange-traded funds closed in the green led by Materials (XLB) as traders pondered a weaker dollar. Five of these funds closed the day in the red, led lower by the Financials (XLF) . If you've quickly figured out that five plus five makes 10, you win a gold star.

The Calm Before the Storm, Consumer Un-Confidence, Nvidia, Wingstop What!? - TheStreet Pro

Calm

calm

Ever feel like stress is life’s way of playing a never-ending prank on you? One minute, you’re handling things like a pro. The next, you’re overwhelmed by an email subject line that starts with “Can you take a look at this?” Stress doesn’t disappear—it just changes costumes. 7 years ago, I was stressed about figuring out how to get started in real estate investing.


Three years ago, it was about scaling my business while juggling a mountain of responsibilities.


Now? It’s about crafting the right words to connect with thousands of people, hoping it makes a difference in their lives. The truth is, a stress-free life is a myth. But here’s the good news: stress isn’t your enemy. It’s your training ground. Master it, and you can tackle anything. Here are six techniques to help you turn stress into your secret weapon: 1. Slow Down (Seriously, You’re Not a Robot) When you’re rushing, everything feels urgent—and that’s when mistakes happen. Take it from Carl Lewis, the Olympic gold medalist who ran his fastest at 85% effort. The counterintuitive trick? Slow down to speed up. Here’s how: Break the cycle: When you feel rushed, pause for a deep breath or two.


Set intentional paces: Start with small wins—focus on finishing one task at a time instead of multitasking yourself into oblivion.


Anchor with focus phrases: Repeat mantras like “slow is smooth, smooth is fast” when you catch yourself panicking. The world won’t end if you take a moment to regroup. 2. Breathe Like You Mean It Stress hijacks your nervous system, but your breath can take back control. Here are two techniques that neuroscientists swear by: Physiological Sigh: Two quick inhales through your nose, followed by one long exhale through your mouth. Do this three times to calm your nerves in under a minute.


4-7-8 Method: Breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds, exhale for 8 seconds. This technique can even improve sleep when done before bed. These aren’t just “woo-woo” tactics. They work because they hack your parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for calming your body down. Pro Tip: Pair this with an activity you already do daily—like brushing your teeth or sitting in traffic—so it becomes second nature. 3. Write It All Out (Don’t Let Your Brain Hoard Stress) Your brain isn’t a storage unit for every worry, to-do list, or intrusive thought. Get it out of your head and onto paper. Try this: Morning Pages (by Julia Cameron): Spend 20 minutes every morning writing stream-of-consciousness. Don’t filter or organize—just let it out.


The Stress Dump List: Before bed, write down everything weighing on your mind. Then, rank items by urgency. Often, you’ll find most aren’t as dire as they feel. Why it works: Writing forces clarity. You can’t tackle a nebulous worry, but you can solve a concrete problem. 4. Fix Your Brain to Fix Your Stress Let’s not sugarcoat it: your brain is the engine, and stress is the red warning light. Here’s how to tune it up: Sleep: Prioritize 7-8 hours. Stress feels 10x worse when you’re sleep-deprived.


Hydrate: Even mild dehydration can spike cortisol levels.


Move: Exercise is a cheat code for reducing stress hormones. Even a 10-minute walk can work wonders.


Nutrition: Cut back on sugar and processed junk. Add magnesium-rich foods like spinach, almonds, and dark chocolate.


Screen Detox: Limit social media and doom-scrolling. Set app timers or switch to grayscale mode to curb overuse. Pro Tip: Treat your brain like an expensive car. You wouldn’t put junk fuel in a Ferrari—so why do it to yourself? 5. Zoom Out (Perspective is Everything) When you’re knee-deep in stress, every little problem feels like the end of the world. But here’s a question that can save you hours of overthinking: “Will this matter in 5 years?” If the answer is no, don’t give it more than 5 minutes of your energy. Here’s another: “What’s the worst-case scenario?” Imagine it in detail. Often, you’ll realize it’s not as catastrophic as your mind is making it seem. Perspective isn’t just about reducing stress—it’s about reminding yourself what really matters. 6. Reframe Your Internal Dialogue Your brain is always eavesdropping on what you say to yourself. Change your language, and you change how you feel. Try these reframes: Nervous → Excited: Your body’s stress response is nearly identical to excitement. Next time you’re “nervous,” tell yourself you’re “pumped.”


Failure → Feedback: You didn’t fail; you learned. And learning is progress.


Have to → Get to: Shift from obligation to opportunity. (“I get to write this email” hits differently than “I have to write this email.”) Pro Tip: Keep a list of reframes on your phone. Use them when negative self-talk starts spiraling. How to Make These Work Long-Term Stress management isn’t just a “break glass in case of emergency” situation. Here’s how to build a daily stress-defense routine: Morning Reset: Start your day with 5 minutes of deep breathing or journaling.


Midday Check-In: Take a 10-minute break to stretch, walk, or just sit quietly.


Evening Wind-Down: Write out tomorrow’s to-do list and end the day with gratitude. Think of it as preventative maintenance for your mental health. Final Thought Stress doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re trying. But here’s the thing: you don’t have to go through it alone. Ask for help when you need it.


Use these techniques to take the edge off. And remember: Every challenge you face is sharpening you for the next one. The waves won’t stop, but you can learn to surf like a pro. Until next time, Ben Ever feel like stress is life’s way of playing a never-ending prank on you? One minute, you’re handling things like a pro. The next, you’re overwhelmed by an email subject line that starts with “Can you take a look at this?” Stress doesn’t disappear—it just changes costumes. 7 years ago, I was stressed about figuring out how to get started in real estate investing. Three years ago, it was about scaling my business while juggling a mountain of responsibilities. Now? It’s about crafting the right words to connect with thousands of people, hoping it makes a difference in their lives. 7 years ago, I was stressed about figuring out how to get started in real estate investing. 7 years ago, I was stressed about figuring out how to get started in real estate investing. Three years ago, it was about scaling my business while juggling a mountain of responsibilities. Three years ago, it was about scaling my business while juggling a mountain of responsibilities. Now? It’s about crafting the right words to connect with thousands of people, hoping it makes a difference in their lives. Now? It’s about crafting the right words to connect with thousands of people, hoping it makes a difference in their lives. The truth is, a stress-free life is a myth. a stress-free life is a myth. But here’s the good news: stress isn’t your enemy. It’s your training ground. Master it, and you can tackle anything. Here are six techniques to help you turn stress into your secret weapon: 1. Slow Down (Seriously, You’re Not a Robot) 1. Slow Down (Seriously, You’re Not a Robot) When you’re rushing, everything feels urgent—and that’s when mistakes happen. Take it from Carl Lewis, the Olympic gold medalist who ran his fastest at 85% effort. 85% effort. The counterintuitive trick? Slow down to speed up. Here’s how: Break the cycle: When you feel rushed, pause for a deep breath or two. Set intentional paces: Start with small wins—focus on finishing one task at a time instead of multitasking yourself into oblivion. Anchor with focus phrases: Repeat mantras like “slow is smooth, smooth is fast” when you catch yourself panicking. Break the cycle: When you feel rushed, pause for a deep breath or two. Break the cycle: When you feel rushed, pause for a deep breath or two. Break the cycle: Set intentional paces: Start with small wins—focus on finishing one task at a time instead of multitasking yourself into oblivion. Set intentional paces: Start with small wins—focus on finishing one task at a time instead of multitasking yourself into oblivion. Set intentional paces: Anchor with focus phrases: Repeat mantras like “slow is smooth, smooth is fast” when you catch yourself panicking. Anchor with focus phrases: Repeat mantras like “slow is smooth, smooth is fast” when you catch yourself panicking. Anchor with focus phrases: The world won’t end if you take a moment to regroup. 2. Breathe Like You Mean It 2. Breathe Like You Mean It Stress hijacks your nervous system, but your breath can take back control. Here are two techniques that neuroscientists swear by: Physiological Sigh: Two quick inhales through your nose, followed by one long exhale through your mouth. Do this three times to calm your nerves in under a minute. 4-7-8 Method: Breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds, exhale for 8 seconds. This technique can even improve sleep when done before bed. Physiological Sigh: Two quick inhales through your nose, followed by one long exhale through your mouth. Do this three times to calm your nerves in under a minute. Physiological Sigh: Two quick inhales through your nose, followed by one long exhale through your mouth. Do this three times to calm your nerves in under a minute. Physiological Sigh: 4-7-8 Method: Breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds, exhale for 8 seconds. This technique can even improve sleep when done before bed. 4-7-8 Method: Breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds, exhale for 8 seconds. This technique can even improve sleep when done before bed. 4-7-8 Method: These aren’t just “woo-woo” tactics. They work because they hack your parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for calming your body down. Pro Tip: Pair this with an activity you already do daily—like brushing your teeth or sitting in traffic—so it becomes second nature. 3. Write It All Out (Don’t Let Your Brain Hoard Stress) 3. Write It All Out (Don’t Let Your Brain Hoard Stress) Your brain isn’t a storage unit for every worry, to-do list, or intrusive thought. Get it out of your head and onto paper. Try this: Morning Pages (by Julia Cameron): Spend 20 minutes every morning writing stream-of-consciousness. Don’t filter or organize—just let it out. The Stress Dump List: Before bed, write down everything weighing on your mind. Then, rank items by urgency. Often, you’ll find most aren’t as dire as they feel. Morning Pages (by Julia Cameron): Spend 20 minutes every morning writing stream-of-consciousness. Don’t filter or organize—just let it out. Morning Pages ( by Julia Cameron ): Spend 20 minutes every morning writing stream-of-consciousness. Don’t filter or organize—just let it out. Morning Pages by Julia Cameron The Stress Dump List: Before bed, write down everything weighing on your mind. Then, rank items by urgency. Often, you’ll find most aren’t as dire as they feel. The Stress Dump List: Before bed, write down everything weighing on your mind. Then, rank items by urgency. Often, you’ll find most aren’t as dire as they feel. The Stress Dump List: Why it works: Writing forces clarity. You can’t tackle a nebulous worry, but you can solve a concrete problem. 4. Fix Your Brain to Fix Your Stress 4. Fix Your Brain to Fix Your Stress Let’s not sugarcoat it: your brain is the engine, and stress is the red warning light. your brain is the engine, and stress is the red warning light. Here’s how to tune it up: Sleep: Prioritize 7-8 hours. Stress feels 10x worse when you’re sleep-deprived. Hydrate: Even mild dehydration can spike cortisol levels. Move: Exercise is a cheat code for reducing stress hormones. Even a 10-minute walk can work wonders. Nutrition: Cut back on sugar and processed junk. Add magnesium-rich foods like spinach, almonds, and dark chocolate. Screen Detox: Limit social media and doom-scrolling. Set app timers or switch to grayscale mode to curb overuse. Sleep: Prioritize 7-8 hours. Stress feels 10x worse when you’re sleep-deprived. Sleep: Prioritize 7-8 hours. Stress feels 10x worse when you’re sleep-deprived. Sleep: Hydrate: Even mild dehydration can spike cortisol levels. Hydrate: Even mild dehydration can spike cortisol levels. Hydrate: Move: Exercise is a cheat code for reducing stress hormones. Even a 10-minute walk can work wonders. Move: Exercise is a cheat code for reducing stress hormones. Even a 10-minute walk can work wonders. Move: Nutrition: Cut back on sugar and processed junk. Add magnesium-rich foods like spinach, almonds, and dark chocolate. Nutrition: Cut back on sugar and processed junk. Add magnesium-rich foods like spinach, almonds, and dark chocolate. Nutrition: Screen Detox: Limit social media and doom-scrolling. Set app timers or switch to grayscale mode to curb overuse. Screen Detox: Limit social media and doom-scrolling. Set app timers or switch to grayscale mode to curb overuse. Screen Detox: Pro Tip: Treat your brain like an expensive car. You wouldn’t put junk fuel in a Ferrari—so why do it to yourself? 5. Zoom Out (Perspective is Everything) 5. Zoom Out (Perspective is Everything) When you’re knee-deep in stress, every little problem feels like the end of the world. But here’s a question that can save you hours of overthinking: “Will this matter in 5 years?” “Will this matter in 5 years?” If the answer is no, don’t give it more than 5 minutes of your energy. Here’s another: “What’s the worst-case scenario?” Imagine it in detail. Often, you’ll realize it’s not as catastrophic as your mind is making it seem. “What’s the worst-case scenario?” Imagine it in detail. Often, you’ll realize it’s not as catastrophic as your mind is making it seem. “What’s the worst-case scenario?” Perspective isn’t just about reducing stress—it’s about reminding yourself what really matters. 6. Reframe Your Internal Dialogue 6. Reframe Your Internal Dialogue Your brain is always eavesdropping on what you say to yourself. Change your language, and you change how you feel. Try these reframes: Nervous → Excited: Your body’s stress response is nearly identical to excitement. Next time you’re “nervous,” tell yourself you’re “pumped.” Failure → Feedback: You didn’t fail; you learned. And learning is progress. Have to → Get to: Shift from obligation to opportunity. (“I get to write this email” hits differently than “I have to write this email.”) Nervous → Excited: Your body’s stress response is nearly identical to excitement. Next time you’re “nervous,” tell yourself you’re “pumped.” Nervous → Excited: Your body’s stress response is nearly identical to excitement. Next time you’re “nervous,” tell yourself you’re “pumped.” Nervous → Excited: Failure → Feedback: You didn’t fail; you learned. And learning is progress. Failure → Feedback: You didn’t fail; you learned. And learning is progress. Failure → Feedback: Have to → Get to: Shift from obligation to opportunity. (“I get to write this email” hits differently than “I have to write this email.”) Have to → Get to: Shift from obligation to opportunity. (“I get to write this email” hits differently than “I have to write this email.”) Have to → Get to: Pro Tip: Keep a list of reframes on your phone. Use them when negative self-talk starts spiraling. How to Make These Work Long-Term How to Make These Work Long-Term Stress management isn’t just a “break glass in case of emergency” situation. Here’s how to build a daily stress-defense routine: Morning Reset: Start your day with 5 minutes of deep breathing or journaling. Midday Check-In: Take a 10-minute break to stretch, walk, or just sit quietly. Evening Wind-Down: Write out tomorrow’s to-do list and end the day with gratitude. Morning Reset: Start your day with 5 minutes of deep breathing or journaling. Morning Reset: Start your day with 5 minutes of deep breathing or journaling. Morning Reset: Midday Check-In: Take a 10-minute break to stretch, walk, or just sit quietly. Midday Check-In: Take a 10-minute break to stretch, walk, or just sit quietly. Midday Check-In: Evening Wind-Down: Write out tomorrow’s to-do list and end the day with gratitude. Evening Wind-Down: Write out tomorrow’s to-do list and end the day with gratitude. Evening Wind-Down: Think of it as preventative maintenance for your mental health. Final Thought Final Thought Stress doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re trying. But here’s the thing: you don’t have to go through it alone. Ask for help when you need it. Use these techniques to take the edge off. Ask for help when you need it. Ask for help when you need it. Use these techniques to take the edge off. Use these techniques to take the edge off. And remember: Every challenge you face is sharpening you for the next one . Every challenge you face is sharpening you for the next one The waves won’t stop, but you can learn to surf like a pro. Until next time, Ben

Stay Calm in Stressful Situations With These 6 Proven Techniques

Bu 6 sübut edilmiş texnika ilə stresli vəziyyətlərdə sakit olun

Bleiben Sie in Stresssituationen ruhig mit diesen 6 bewährten Techniken

Mantén la calma en situaciones estresantes con estas 6 técnicas comprobadas

Mantén a calma en situacións estresantes con estas 6 técnicas probadas

ストレスの多い状況でも冷静さを保つための 6 つの実証済みテクニック

រក្សាភាពស្ងប់ស្ងាត់ក្នុងស្ថានភាពស្ត្រេសជាមួយនឹងបច្ចេកទេសទាំង ៦ នេះដែលបង្ហាញឱ្យឃើញ

Blijf kalm in stressvolle situaties met deze 6 bewezen technieken

Kay 6 Pruebasqa Técnicaswan Situaciones Estrés nisqapi thak kay

Rămâi calm în situații stresante cu aceste 6 tehnici dovedite

Isdeji marka aad ku sugan tahay xaaladaha walaaca leh 6-daan farsamo ee la xaqiijiyay

使用这 6 种行之有效的技巧在压力情况下保持冷静

Hlala Uzolile Ezimeni Ezicindezelayo Ngalawa Masu Afakazelwe angu-6

The HackerNoon Newsletter: Can Technology Help Us Calm Down Road Rage? (1/25/2025)

Road rage has long been a hot topic among commuters. How often do you drive in traffic and see somebody losing their cool in an adjacent car? Too often. Current trends suggest road rage is getting worse, not better. With several technologies in place and others potentially on the way, could that angry driver be calmed by their vehicle soon? How Bad Is Road Rage in the United States? To truly understand the need for technological intervention, you must first comprehend how out-of-hand the road rage problem is. The most prevalent behaviors include speeding, tailgating, honking and gesturing, running a red light, aggressive driving and cutting another vehicle off. Most frustration is seen on Mondays and Fridays and in the afternoons, when traffic tends to be heavier. Approximately 92% of commuters reported witnessing a road rage incident in 2023. About 89% claimed to have been victims of one. Are you one of these? Commuters believe road rage and aggressive driving occur most in heavy traffic, with already-stressed or angry drivers who are most likely running late for appointments or meetings most responsible. Younger drivers are often highlighted as road rage culprits. Technology may be the answer to calm potential road-ragers down. How Might Technology Help? How does technology impact driving? Consider current and potential technologies to understand how far onboard methods might produce solutions for road rage. Chatbot Messaging A chatbot in the Nissan Leaf electric vehicle (EV) can communicate with its driver, asking questions like, “What’s stressing you out right now?” and providing advice like “By breaking down a problem into tiny steps, we can often string together a solution.” These prerecorded comments were made in response to the driver making frustrated comments to herself, indicating frustration and mild annoyance. If you were in your vehicle and feeling unhappy with being stuck in traffic, would it help if the car started speaking to you? Initially, the novelty would likely distract you from your frustration, but further down the line, it might provide a way of calming your mood and help you focus on your driving again. Traffic congestion, long car rides and rushing to meet deadlines can all cause you to become impatient or annoyed — these feelings are generally easier to deal with if you’re not alone. Even if your traveling companion is a chatbot, you’ll be better off than you would without it. Other vehicle and tech brands have taken note of Nissan’s technology, but there’s no news on the releases yet. Biometric Sensors and Cameras In 2019, Tech giant Huawei patented a system using biometric sensors and cameras to monitor speech patterns, facial expressions and hand gestures. It can also assess the driver’s blood pressure through an accompanying smartwatch. The idea is that the gathered data can assess the driver’s mood and propensity toward road rage. Should the technology believe the anger level is too great, it can automatically slow down the car or even bring it to a halt. Road rage often stems from hostile and aggressive thoughts that might turn to revenge on another driver, so you’d assume blood pressure will rise and facial features and speech will show aggression. Although bringing a vehicle to a halt on a busy road may cause issues, the makings of a technological breakthrough exist. However, the six-year-old patent still awaits official release, and there’s limited online information on it. LED Displays LED displays in vehicles serve myriad purposes, from dashboard functionality to heads-up displays (HUDs), to enhance vehicle safety and provide entertainment. Their potential to relay messages to other drivers might be a technological breakthrough required to limit road rage incidents. If you positioned an LED display aiming outward from a rear window, you could send a voice message of apology transferred to text on the screen that quells the mood of an angry driver behind. You might have misunderstood the actions of another driver, believing they were purposely trying to anger. Often, these misunderstandings can result in further aggressive actions. Sending a visible LED apology message to an angry driver could prompt a more rational response after they calm down. This technology would only work if you’re not similarly emotional and send an aggressive voice message that causes more conflict. AI and ML Learning Potentially, one of the most productive technological advancements in assessing and calming drivers’ moods comes with in-car mood monitoring systems that function with cameras, enhanced artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). Jaguar Land Rover tested its prototype in 2019, which took a similar camera and sensor idea earlier attributed to Huawei and appears to have improved the idea. The camera constantly films the driver to monitor facial expressions and incorporates biometric sensors for more accurate results. Headrest cameras also check passenger expressions. If you’re angry or stressed while driving, the technology will change the car lighting to prompt a calmer mood and can even start a specific music playlist. It can also adjust the lights if it observes tiredness. The mood-monitoring technology continually learns due to AI and ML, so it will adapt to your preferences the longer it is in place. Other companies offer similar products. Swedish company Smart Eye has released its new AIS+ Driver Monitoring System, which uses AI-powered technology to monitor driver distraction, drowsiness, dangerous driving, body position, facial expressions and health. Are Road Rage Solutions Within These Technologies? These technologies offer possible solutions, but there’s still much work to do to combine human emotion with technology to positively impact road rage. You might agree that the most straightforward solutions currently stand the most chance of success. Solutions for Today When you’re alone and feel angry or frustrated, you might release your emotions by letting them out — often in a physical way. Punching a wall or slamming your fists on a table can help. Your options are limited when driving, and you may direct that anger toward other drivers. If they respond in kind, the potential for a nasty road rage episode exists. Nissan’s chatbot makes a case for appealing to human nature through communication. If you have a passenger in your car, you’ll likely feel calmed by their words, and a chatbot that senses your tone may similarly affect your mood. Communicating with another driver via an LED display could cool matters between you by appealing to their human side. There’s no guarantee it will, but it breaks the anonymity element, which is often a factor in prompting road rage. Aggressive drivers who are sure their identity is unknown may feel there is less likelihood of reprisal for their actions. Even by including your name after an LED apology, you break that anonymity to a degree that may prompt a tamer reaction or even embarrassment. Is public LED technology a road rage solution? It’s not foolproof but may be better than nothing. Future Solutions These technologies may show promise, but more time may be needed to refine their impact on road rage scenarios. Reactions prompting anger are often impulsive, so switching on music or dimming lights may not have the desired effect. Presently, these mood and driver monitoring systems will likely be more helpful to fleet managers watching their drivers than road rage candidates. However, they could provide future solutions with more research and application. Technology and Human Intent Can Calm Down Road Rage Preventing road rage amounts to control. If drivers were willing and able to control their emotions, there would be no need for technology to quell road rage. As this isn’t the case, applying capable technologies could help. Solutions exist, but without peoples’ willingness to work with them, they will only be as effective as the human element allows. Like in countless other life scenarios, technology for calming road rage can ease the symptoms but not provide the cure. Road rage has long been a hot topic among commuters. How often do you drive in traffic and see somebody losing their cool in an adjacent car? Too often. Current trends suggest road rage is getting worse, not better. With several technologies in place and others potentially on the way, could that angry driver be calmed by their vehicle soon? How Bad Is Road Rage in the United States? How Bad Is Road Rage in the United States? To truly understand the need for technological intervention, you must first comprehend how out-of-hand the road rage problem is. The most prevalent behaviors include speeding , tailgating, honking and gesturing, running a red light, aggressive driving and cutting another vehicle off. Most frustration is seen on Mondays and Fridays and in the afternoons, when traffic tends to be heavier. most prevalent behaviors include speeding most prevalent behaviors include speeding Approximately 92% of commuters reported witnessing a road rage incident in 2023. About 89% claimed to have been victims of one. Are you one of these? 92% of commuters reported witnessing 92% of commuters reported witnessing Commuters believe road rage and aggressive driving occur most in heavy traffic, with already-stressed or angry drivers who are most likely running late for appointments or meetings most responsible. Younger drivers are often highlighted as road rage culprits. Technology may be the answer to calm potential road-ragers down. How Might Technology Help? How does technology impact driving? Consider current and potential technologies to understand how far onboard methods might produce solutions for road rage. Chatbot Messaging A chatbot in the Nissan Leaf electric vehicle (EV) can communicate with its driver, asking questions like, “What’s stressing you out right now?” and providing advice like “By breaking down a problem into tiny steps, we can often string together a solution.” These prerecorded comments were made in response to the driver making frustrated comments to herself , indicating frustration and mild annoyance. making frustrated comments to herself making frustrated comments to herself If you were in your vehicle and feeling unhappy with being stuck in traffic, would it help if the car started speaking to you? Initially, the novelty would likely distract you from your frustration, but further down the line, it might provide a way of calming your mood and help you focus on your driving again. Traffic congestion, long car rides and rushing to meet deadlines can all cause you to become impatient or annoyed — these feelings are generally easier to deal with if you’re not alone. Even if your traveling companion is a chatbot, you’ll be better off than you would without it. Other vehicle and tech brands have taken note of Nissan’s technology, but there’s no news on the releases yet. Biometric Sensors and Cameras In 2019, Tech giant Huawei patented a system using biometric sensors and cameras to monitor speech patterns, facial expressions and hand gestures. It can also assess the driver’s blood pressure through an accompanying smartwatch. The idea is that the gathered data can assess the driver’s mood and propensity toward road rage. Should the technology believe the anger level is too great, it can automatically slow down the car or even bring it to a halt. can assess the driver’s mood can assess the driver’s mood Road rage often stems from hostile and aggressive thoughts that might turn to revenge on another driver, so you’d assume blood pressure will rise and facial features and speech will show aggression. Although bringing a vehicle to a halt on a busy road may cause issues, the makings of a technological breakthrough exist. However, the six-year-old patent still awaits official release, and there’s limited online information on it. LED Displays LED displays in vehicles serve myriad purposes, from dashboard functionality to heads-up displays (HUDs), to enhance vehicle safety and provide entertainment. Their potential to relay messages to other drivers might be a technological breakthrough required to limit road rage incidents. If you positioned an LED display aiming outward from a rear window, you could send a voice message of apology transferred to text on the screen that quells the mood of an angry driver behind. You might have misunderstood the actions of another driver, believing they were purposely trying to anger. Often, these misunderstandings can result in further aggressive actions. send a voice message of apology send a voice message of apology Sending a visible LED apology message to an angry driver could prompt a more rational response after they calm down. This technology would only work if you’re not similarly emotional and send an aggressive voice message that causes more conflict. AI and ML Learning Potentially, one of the most productive technological advancements in assessing and calming drivers’ moods comes with in-car mood monitoring systems that function with cameras, enhanced artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). Jaguar Land Rover tested its prototype in 2019 , which took a similar camera and sensor idea earlier attributed to Huawei and appears to have improved the idea. tested its prototype in 2019 tested its prototype in 2019 The camera constantly films the driver to monitor facial expressions and incorporates biometric sensors for more accurate results. Headrest cameras also check passenger expressions. If you’re angry or stressed while driving, the technology will change the car lighting to prompt a calmer mood and can even start a specific music playlist. It can also adjust the lights if it observes tiredness. The mood-monitoring technology continually learns due to AI and ML, so it will adapt to your preferences the longer it is in place. Other companies offer similar products. Swedish company Smart Eye has released its new AIS+ Driver Monitoring System, which uses AI-powered technology to monitor driver distraction, drowsiness, dangerous driving, body position, facial expressions and health. uses AI-powered technology to monitor uses AI-powered technology to monitor Are Road Rage Solutions Within These Technologies? These technologies offer possible solutions, but there’s still much work to do to combine human emotion with technology to positively impact road rage. You might agree that the most straightforward solutions currently stand the most chance of success. Solutions for Today When you’re alone and feel angry or frustrated, you might release your emotions by letting them out — often in a physical way. Punching a wall or slamming your fists on a table can help. Your options are limited when driving, and you may direct that anger toward other drivers. If they respond in kind, the potential for a nasty road rage episode exists. Nissan’s chatbot makes a case for appealing to human nature through communication. If you have a passenger in your car, you’ll likely feel calmed by their words, and a chatbot that senses your tone may similarly affect your mood. Communicating with another driver via an LED display could cool matters between you by appealing to their human side. There’s no guarantee it will, but it breaks the anonymity element, which is often a factor in prompting road rage. Aggressive drivers who are sure their identity is unknown may feel there is less likelihood of reprisal for their actions. Even by including your name after an LED apology, you break that anonymity to a degree that may prompt a tamer reaction or even embarrassment. Is public LED technology a road rage solution? It’s not foolproof but may be better than nothing. Future Solutions These technologies may show promise, but more time may be needed to refine their impact on road rage scenarios. Reactions prompting anger are often impulsive, so switching on music or dimming lights may not have the desired effect. Presently, these mood and driver monitoring systems will likely be more helpful to fleet managers watching their drivers than road rage candidates. However, they could provide future solutions with more research and application. Technology and Human Intent Can Calm Down Road Rage Preventing road rage amounts to control. If drivers were willing and able to control their emotions, there would be no need for technology to quell road rage. As this isn’t the case, applying capable technologies could help. Solutions exist, but without peoples’ willingness to work with them, they will only be as effective as the human element allows. Like in countless other life scenarios, technology for calming road rage can ease the symptoms but not provide the cure.

Can Technology Help Us Calm Down Road Rage?

هل يمكن أن تساعدنا التكنولوجيا في تهدئة الغضب أثناء القيادة؟

¿Puede la tecnología ayudarnos a calmar la ira al volante?

האם הטכנולוגיה יכולה לעזור לנו להרגיע את זעם הדרכים?

テクノロジーはロードレイジを鎮めるのに役立つでしょうか?

შეუძლია ტექნოლოგია დაგვეხმაროს გზის გაბრაზების დამშვიდებაში?

Ar technologijos gali padėti numalšinti siautėjimą kelyje?

Bolehkah Teknologi Membantu Kami Meredakan Kemarahan Jalan Raya?

Czy technologia może pomóc nam uspokoić agresję drogową?

A mund të na ndihmojë teknologjia të qetësojmë tërbimin e rrugës?

Може ли нам технологија помоћи да смиримо бес на путу?

Makakatulong ba ang Teknolohiya sa Amin na Patigilin ang Galit sa Daan?

科技能帮助我们平息路怒症吗？

How can you bring your best to every situation when dealing with the pressure of high expectations? You know that you can’t screw up when doing something that matters to you or when you really care about the outcome, and yet high-pressure situations make many people react poorly and lose their calm. It leads to poor choices, bad decisions and can sometimes even lead to inaction. The higher the stake, the higher the cost of not being in control. Losing your calm and shutting people out when work gets a little bit overwhelming or feeling so paralyzed by pressure that you get stuck in an overthinking cycle hurts your productivity and performance. For example: Making a key strategy decision for your organization. Presenting your ideas to a large audience. Negotiating a big deal with a client. These are great opportunities where pressure is inevitable, and yet you need to be confident and aim high. When we aim high, pressure and stress obligingly come along for the ride. Stuff is going to happen that catches us off guard, threatens or scares us. Surprises (unpleasant ones, mostly) are almost guaranteed. The risk of being overwhelmed is always there. Regardless of how much actual danger we’re in, stress puts us at the potential whim of our baser—fearful—instinctual reactions — Ryan Holiday You may have all the expertise, skills and the knowledge in the world to do well, but if you don’t know how to handle pressure situations well—you lose control of your emotions or see the situation as a threat—pressure will make you do worse, and lead you to fail utterly. \Keeping your calm during challenging times, ability to gauge the situation with a clear head and acting deliberately instead of reacting to the situation is crucial to lead under pressure. Here are the five strategies I have used in my career to stay calm and thrive under pressure: Realistically evaluate the situation Under pressure, your mind automatically becomes hyperactive and starts racing, which makes it either exaggerate the problem or get stuck in an overthinking cycle of what-ifs. The more you let your mind take control, the worse your imagination gets—everything bad that can happen gets magnified, and every good possibility takes a back seat. Catastrophic thinking that involves exaggerating the negative consequences of a situation and imagining the worst possible outcomes takes over. To stay calm under pressure, the first thing you need to do is come in touch with reality. Decatastrophizing will shift the focus away from these catastrophic thoughts and replace them with more balanced and realistic ones. To do this, ask these questions: What exactly is the problem or situation you’re dealing with? What’s making it stressful? Are these real expectations, or is it the result of self-imposed pressure? What’s the worst that can happen? How likely is it on a scale of 1 (not at all likely) to 5 (very likely). What’s the best case scenario? How likely is it on a scale of 1 (not at all likely) to 5 (very likely). What techniques or strategies can you use to cope with the catastrophe if it does happen? If the catastrophe occurs, what are the chances you'll be okay in 1 week, 1 month and 1 year from now? You have to stay realistic about the facts of your situation—distorting it will create unrealistic pressure that’s either impossible to meet or make the situation appear so frightening that you’ll fail to act right when you need it the most. Reappraise anxiety as excitement. A by Harvard Business School researcher Alison Wood Brooks found that people who see pressure situations as opportunities and not a threat perform better—those who reappraise anxiety as excitement end up showing more enthusiasm and performing better in subsequent tasks. study Reappraisal is a cognitive change in which you don’t actually change the surroundings that are causing negative emotions but instead try to alter your understanding of the circumstances. She suggests using strategies such as self-talk by saying out loud or messages like can lead to generating more excitement and adopting an opportunity mindset as opposed to a threat mindset. Reappraisal from anxiety to excitement positively correlates with better results in a stressful situation and improves subsequent performance. “I am excited” “get excited” But aren’t we always told to act cool and have a calm and confident demeanor under pressure? Brooks’ study shows that it doesn’t work. In her experiments she found out that people who talked about being excited just before the task significantly outperformed those who talked about being nervous, or calm, or were told to try to remain calm. She says “the more often individuals reappraise their anxiety as excitement, the more likely they may be to trigger upward motivational spirals, and the happier and more successful they may become.” Instead of trying to “Keep calm and carry on,” perhaps the path to success begins by simply saying, “I am excited.” Daniel McGinn draws upon Brooks’ study and explains this further: Brooks says, “People have this really strong intuition to try to calm down in stressful situations. You hear it all the time. People either actively say, ‘Calm down,’ or they say, ‘Don’t be anxious.’ The hitch is that it seems quite difficult to find strategies to actually do that.” In a perfect world, it might be possible to reappraise one’s feelings of nervousness into an unaroused, nonchalant calm. Brooks suggests that, in reality, that’s too great a leap. “The argument is that anxiety and excitement are actually very, very close, but that anxiety and calmness are too far apart,” she says. So, instead of aiming for calm, the smarter strategy is to force yourself to make the more subtle, achievable mental shift from nervousness to excitement. Leverage your experience Pressure situations tend to heighten negative feelings while suppressing positive emotions and outcomes. They make you focus on what you can lose as opposed to what you can gain. Thinking about your past experience helps put things in perspective. It shifts your focus from worrying about things outside your control to things within your reach—your knowledge, experience, and skills. Using your past successes as a gateway to your potential future success can prevent you from feeling overwhelmed by stressful and anxiety-causing situations. When working under pressure, think about a similar problem that you solved before: What are the similarities between the two situations? What are the differences? Consciously evaluating this helps you understand that no two situations are the same, but you can always leverage knowledge and experience from one to another. What specifically did you do in those situations to perform at your best? Which behaviors were helpful? Which behaviors were damaging and prevented you from achieving your goal? How can you leverage some of that learning and adapt it to the current situation? Thinking about a similar problem that you’ve solved before makes the experience less frightening. For example: Dealing with the pressure of a job interview? Think about your past interviews where you left a positive impact on the interviewer. Worried about giving a presentation? Think about the skills you demonstrated in your previous presentations that left everyone inspired. Pressure moments are filled with uncertainty—you are uncertain that you will deliver the goods. Remembering your past successes ignites confidence—you did it before and you can do it again. As your confidence increases, uncertainty (anxiety) and pressure are diminished, freeing you to approach the task with your best effort. Nervousness becomes transformed into positive enthusiasm that is directed to the task, rather than anxious thinking that is distracting. — Hendrie Weisinger To stay calm and thrive under pressure, say it out loud: “I’ve done it before. I can do it again.” Think about the immediate next step Pressure creates a sense of urgency—you need to act quickly and get things out of the way. But thinking about the enormity of the task ahead of you can overwhelm you and prevent you from getting started. Pressure which should ignite action turns into procrastination. You keep putting things off with excuses that appear completely justified in those moments—not enough motivation, not the right time, don’t have the clarity or keeping busy with trivial tasks while ignoring important and complex tasks that must be done to accomplish your goal. \Robert Maurer states — “Radical change is like charging up a steep hill—you may run out of wind before you reach the crest, or the thought of all the work ahead makes you give up no sooner than you’ve begun.” He suggests another path altogether, “one that winds so gently up the hill that you hardly notice the climb. It is pleasant to negotiate and soft to tread. And all it requires is that you place one foot in front of the other.” This strategy of putting one foot in front of the other—taking small steps for continual improvement—is called . Lao Tzu, the Chinese philosopher captured the spirit of Kaizen in his famous saying and John Wooden, the legendary basketball coach highlighted the importance of small improvement “When you improve a little each day, eventually big things occur. When you improve conditioning a little each day, eventually, you have a big improvement in conditioning. Not tomorrow, not the next day, but eventually, a big gain is made. Don’t look for the big, quick improvement. Seek the small improvement one day at a time. That’s the only way it happens—and when it happens, it lasts.” Kaizen “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” Small, consistent changes turn off your brain’s alarm system that resists and fears change. These small steps may seem trivial at first, but they soon turn into meaningful habits. Pressure moments that earlier triggered procrastination now trigger purposeful action. To stay calm and thrive under pressure, don’t think about all the steps leading to your goal; just plan the immediate next step. One foot in front of the other requires: Identify a small step and put it into action. Act, revise, and repeat step 1 till you seek the second-level challenge. Act, revise, and repeat the second-level challenge till you desire the third-level challenge. Repeat this for the third, fourth...nth level challenge. And just like that, step at a time, your effort will compound into a much bigger change. Goals that appeared too big at first will now be within your reach. There will be no resistance to pushing aside or delaying the task when working under pressure. Taking small steps to make continuous progress will become a part of your identity. It’s what you’ll do. To stay calm and thrive under pressure, ask yourself, “What’s the first small step you can take?” Always be prepared Despite your best efforts and planning, some things may not go as expected. When you aren’t mentally prepared to handle the unexpected, any deviation from the normal or even a slight change in your circumstance can throw you off balance by taking away your sense of control over the situation, making you highly anxious, and distorting your ability to think clearly. When dealing with high pressure, unwelcome events are not only dreadful, they appear devastating. You end up making bad choices and regretful decisions. In life, there will be times when we do everything right, perhaps even perfectly. Yet the results will somehow be negative: failure, disrespect, jealousy, or even a resounding yawn from the world. — Ryan Holiday To be less startled by the unexpected, train your brain to expect the unexpected. To stay calm under pressure, be prepared to face the worst using the premortem technique: Place yourself into the future and look back. Visualize the project, task, or whatever you intend to do has gone horribly wrong. Create a mental picture in your mind using “what-if” scenarios. Work backward to identify what mistakes might cause it to fail. Create a plan to solve these issues—address the risks and obstacles, thereby making it easy to deal with them when they arise. Nothing can surprise you when you’re mentally prepared to deal with the unexpected. Consciously thinking about uncomfortable and unwanted situations has another advantage—it builds the mental muscle to embrace discomfort instead of running away from it. You cannot predict the future, but you can plan for it. You cannot control the uncertain outcomes, but you can be better prepared to focus on the controllable results. When performing under pressure, knowing the worst that can happen can lift the pressure off by being less dependent on the outcomes and putting more focus on the effort. Summary Pressure is inevitable when you’re trying to do worthwhile work. Reacting to pressure can put you at a disadvantage as you end up making poor choices and terrible decisions. Leading under pressure requires the ability to keep your calm and think with a clear head—being purposeful in the way you behave and act. Pressure leads to exaggeration—you imagine the worst possibility and consider it your best case. Seeing the situation for what it is without distorting facts or reality is critical to thriving under pressure. Anxiety and stress tag along when pressure shows up. However, research shows that reappraising anxiety as excitement makes you view pressure situations as opportunities and not a threat, which leads to more enthusiasm and better performance in subsequent tasks. Pressure situations can make your knowledge, skills, and experience irrelevant if you don’t know how to deal with them. Recalling past experience and leveraging it to deal with the current situation can diffuse pressure by reminding you that you’ve done it before and you can do it again. Pressure makes it hard to visualize the end goal and all the steps you need to take to get there. In some cases, pressure can make you feel so overwhelmed that you stop even before you’ve started. To prevent this from happening, take consistent small steps towards your goal. Putting one foot in front of the other is a powerful strategy to make progress without fear or self-doubt. Finally, remember that failures and mistakes are inevitable even with the best strategies and plans in place. Train your brain to expect the unexpected. This story was previously published . Follow me on or here for more stories. here LinkedIn

Thriving Under Pressure: Tips for Staying Calm Amid High Expectations

When the atmosphere was calm, the low temperature was easily borne

In the wake of the latest events we have witnessed in the banking sector, with several actors facing liquidity crunches as a result of rapid and large customer redemptions, financial markets have behaved surprisingly calmly over the last week. This is happening at a time when the Federal Reserve sticks to its course and has the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to a total of roughly 5% now. increased This is the reality of the waters we are treading in right now. that has proved stickier than most imagined. to entities who’ve been blindsided by this changing context. On the one hand, central banks are raising rates to battle widespread inflation On the other hand, the rapid shift in the rate environment caused over just one year has started to cause severe damage In the latest developments, Germany’s largest bank, Deutsche Bank is the latest entity to have from customers hoarding towards the fire exit and redeeming capital at large. This resulted in a massive stock sell-off of Deutsche Bank on Friday, sending the stock downwards more than 8% last week. suffered And while the Federal Reserve’s chairman Jerome Powell has already said that their base case for rate increases has not changed, it is worth taking notice of the fact that the rhetoric has begun to soften with him stating that they are monitoring the impact of policy direction. Crypto Lense In the crypto market, BTC’s price hovered between a lower bound of $26.5K and an upper bound of $28.8K. While bulls have been failing to reach the $30K mark, bears have also had a tough time getting below $25k. . I find it likely that the BTC markets remain range bound for the time being, while we ultimately think valuations will march higher in time Hashrate Climbing Comfortably Bitcoin’s hash rate has been gradually making a comeback over the past few weeks and is currently at 348.6 EH/s, according to the latest data from blockchain.com. In the past, this has been a sign of the crypto market activity starting to breathe back to life. Changpeng Zhao (CZ), the founder and CEO of Binance, was sued by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) on Monday. According to the , Binance.com, along with CZ, is accused of offering unregistered crypto derivative products, among other charges, including market manipulation. CZ Binance Sued by the CFTC & Do Kwon Arrested lawsuit CZ has since to the CFTC complaint, confirming that the exchange participates in trading to convert its revenues from crypto to fiat but does not engage in trading for profit. Despite the assurance, the crypto market plunged on Monday, reversing what had started as a bullish momentum at the beginning of the week. responded Meanwhile, Do Kwon, the founder of Luna, who has been on the run for some months, was arrested last week in Montenegro. Following the arrest, US authorities moved swiftly to charge the now disgraced crypto mogul with defrauding US citizens. Noteworthy News Several Tier-1 banks in France face over $1.1 billion in fines after PNF raids On Tuesday, the offices of various Tier-1 banks, including HSBC, BNP Paribas, and Societe Generale, were raided by French authorities. As per a spokesperson from the PNF Financial Prosecution Office, there are currently five ongoing investigations associated with the 'cum-cum' practices, which involve intricate legal frameworks that affluent clients use to evade taxes on dividends. Given the recent insolvencies and ethical malpractices in the traditional banking system, it seems inevitable that Bitcoin will eventually emerge as the preferred form of currency in the modern-day financial ecosystem. Microstrategy Repays $205 million Silvergate Loan, Buys $150 million worth of BTC Business intelligence firm and one of the largest BTC holders, Microstrategy, has repaid a $205 million loan owed to Silvergate at a 22% discount. The firm’s CEO, Michael Saylor, shared the 8-K filing on Twitter, also revealing that Microstrategy added 6,455 BTC ($150 million) to its stash. As of writing, Microstrategy owns a total of 138,955 BTC, acquired at an average price of $29,817. Layer 2 Hype Continues with Polygon’s zkEVM and zkSync Era Mainnet launches The hype around Ethereum’s Layer-2 solutions continued to gain momentum last week as Polygon and zkSync launched their much-awaited zkEVM-compatible mainnets. Notably, the developments come barely a week after Arbitrum, one of the optimistic rollup solutions, launched its governance token, ARB. The war between optimistic and zk rollups will probably gain more steam as DeFi users get to experience these Layer-2 scaling infrastructures. Fed Explains its decision to reject Custodia’s Bank membership application to the Federal Reserve system The Federal Reserve has a statement denying Custodia Bank's membership application to its system. The decision was based on concerns over the bank's management, financial condition, and limited focus on digital assets. The Fed emphasized its intention to prevent further integration of crypto into the conventional banking industry. The Board of Governors also expressed uncertainty regarding Custodia's potential profitability in the future. published Also Published Here

Crypto Markets Remain Surprisingly Calm as the Fed Stays the Course on Rate-Hike Plan

A Sudden Calm: Raskolnikov's Determination to End it All

(Scroll down to the hack) ‘Lying’ by Sam Harris explores why we lie to one another. Is someone with makeup lying to us about their appearance? We’ve all been Seinfeld & Aziz at the restaurant. And we do it because lying is easier. The social scientist will point out ☝️the effort vs benefit of ethical responsibility is too high☝️ And so, we shouldn’t be surprised that our users lie to us. It’s what makes listening to users an underrated skill. Most times, we don’t even intend to lie. We just forget to think about the truth. We fall prey to biases and tricks that the mind plays on us. Like the availability bias. Someone asks us “What’s keeping you up at night?” and we blurt out the first thing our minds make available to us. Not a great question to ask. By the way, congratulations if you’re already talking to users. Having spent hundreds of hours doing it at multiple ventures, I can tell you’re already. Most people don’t even do it. People don’t talk to users for a variety of reasons. It’s uncomfortable. You’re troubling someone. You need to say please and thank you. It’s scary. You may mess it up. You’re thinking about what to ask next. And not listening to what they’re saying. As such, many organizations and individuals hide behind surveys, or just read support tickets and data. Others justify different priorities, or.. just look busy. Hack Question (HQ) Get started on a call today by simply asking the user this again and again “And what did you do next?” Some theory and nuance follow, but if you want to skip it and hop on a call, just go on try it! It’s a Hack question for a reason It helps recall vs reimagine: We’re terrible at reimagining others’ worlds. “If I cooked up some tapioca balls and put them in tea would you drink it?” Err… sure! It’s open vs close-ended: Asking close-ended questions isn’t useful. It allows the easy way out. “How is everything?” Great! It’s non-leading vs leading: Leading questions make it easy for someone to lie. “This recipe is from my grandmother, isn’t it amazing” Yes! It forces detail: Building products is a high detail activity. Simply knowing “world hunger is a problem” doesn’t help you decide what to cook next. It uncovers jobs to be done: Every successful product solves some job. This question forces the user to recall jobs they need to do to accomplish a goal. Meeting bookends You naturally don’t want to start and finish the call with a Hack question. So, what do bookends look like? Smile, thank, and welcome your guest. Let them know it isn’t an inquisition. You’re just trying to understand better. Ok to record? Intro: Ask exactly what your product intends to solve. Remember we’re going for detail. Kickoff: “Tell me about the last time you bought steak at a food truck”. Depending on their response, adjust, but . They may be further up the buyer journey. That’s ok, you’ll get different information from this audience. Like how to acquire them. settle into HQ asap Speak from the heart. Big thank you, it was a valuable conversation and meant a lot. Finish: a BANTer s you get better at it You’ve overcome the initial fear. Now learn to BANTer between HQs as they describe pain points. Budget: Have you spent money on solving that? Authority: Did you need to get an ok from someone else first? Need: Do you really need to solve it, how many hrs/week do you get back? Timing: When was the last time you faced this, how often do you face it? It’s a sales discovery technique but applies to feature discovery too. Not every pain point is worth solving. Uncover the one to focus on. Don’t panic, and good luck! 😅

Hack Calmer Conversations and Get Reliable Feedback from Users

Who wouldn’t want to be less anxious and stressed? Who wouldn’t want to enjoy calm and inner peace? You might have heard about the benefits of meditation. As a reminder, this article . from Mayo Clinic recaps them Meditation helps with: Gaining a new perspective on stressful situations Building skills to manage your stress Increasing self-awareness Focusing on the present Reducing negative emotions Increasing imagination and creativity Increasing patience and tolerance Having fallen out of meditation practice over and over again, I know that sometimes you can’t keep up with meditation on your own, no matter how good it is for you. That is definitely not a personal failing. Life can get in the way. It helps to have a community of other people to discuss meditation with. But even without that, I found that meditation videos and apps can be extremely helpful meditation guides. Calming Meditation Apps and Websites There are a wide variety of meditation apps available. This article on and another article from are two great articles that discuss a comprehensive view of the pros and cons of many apps. I can discuss three apps that I have tried in my personal experience. Verywellmind.com Healthline.com Insight Timer One of my first experiences with a meditation app was with Insight Timer. Insight Timer has certain aspects that are free and some paid programming as well. Though it’s been a few years since I’ve used the platform, I appreciated that there was some free content. As I was beginning on my meditation journey, having the free Insight Timer app seemed risk-free and less intimidating for me. Looking at the Insight Timer website now, I see the company still has a commitment to providing helpful and free content. I was able to listen to an hour-long talk about mindfulness by Lama Rod Owens without even signing up. Headspace The next meditation app I tried was Headspace in 2019 before the beginning of the Pandemic. Headspace has quirky branding and a unique message. I found it very educational. I learned more about deep breathing techniques through the app. Some of these breathing techniques really helped my sleep if I did them consistently at bedtime. This was also an app that introduced me to sleep stories which are short ASMR stories you can listen to as you are falling asleep. These were also great for my bedtime routine. I did find that the app had some slowness and technical issues when I was using it, but I enjoyed using the app immensely for the most part. The company has special sales plans for and . students families Calm.com Most recently, I have tried the Calm app. I have tried the app for about 2 weeks so far and I have explored the daily content as well as sleep music and stories. I have not noticed any technical issues so far with the phone app or the website, which was reassuring. There are several daily lessons in mindfulness and mindful movement from teachers like Jay Shetty, Tamara Levitt, and Jeff Warren. Also, the numerous sleep stories are narrated by many celebrities like PINK and Matthew McConaughey. I allowed the app to send me reminder notifications, and the app reminds me to write down things I am grateful for. It also sends me messages to remind me to be more mindful during the day. These have actually been really helpful for me to take a minute to breathe and remember to practice gratitude. The app allows you to turn off the notifications or adjust the frequency so you don't feel overwhelmed by them. Strangely enough, during the Pandemic, I did not turn to any meditation apps to feel less stressed. I found Youtube to be the most accessible for me at the time. I found myself scrolling through my Youtube feed a lot for entertainment and stress relief. I found some channels that were helpful for meditation music and meditation ideas. Using these as a starting point, I encourage you to explore the internet for other resources! Meditation Youtube Channels Healing Vibrations Media https://youtu.be/nDBKREP3LkU The Meditative Mind https://youtu.be/mr8GBzTsWqM https://www.youtube.com/c/TheMeditativeMind Take Care of Your Mental Health, You Are Worth It Taking care of ourselves should not be the last thing on our minds. I know it's easy to put your mental health priorities behind others in your life. Poor mental health can affect everything else though. Having access to a meditation app might help. With the Calm app notifications, I have been getting some meditation and meditative thought on most days recently and that has been a welcome change in my life. There are numerous other resources even beyond the ones I have highlighted. Find the one that’s right for you. You are worth it. References Mayo Clinic. “Meditation: A simple, fast way to reduce stress.” https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/meditation/in-depth/meditation/art-20045858 https://www.verywellmind.com/best-meditation-apps-4767322 https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/top-meditation-iphone-android-apps#A-quick-look-at-the-best-meditation-apps

Meditation Resources: Apps and Websites to Keep Calm

Image via ALA.HAUSSE The CalmWear Origin Story The brand’s founder Michelle Ebbin was inspired to create CalmWear when her autistic son, Jett, couldn’t make it through the day without having dozens of meltdowns due to sensory overload. She wanted to create a realistic and effective solution to help lessen his meltdowns. His first night in a compression singlet, Jett was having less, and milder meltdowns. The creation of CalmWear is part of her efforts to share her success with compression clothing. Image via minifashionaddicts.com Wearable therapy CalmWear can offer a sense of comfort to just about anyone. Calming compression clothing is used primarily to assist the body in filtering sensory information. For those with a sensory processing disorder, the steady pressure that comes from wearing compression clothing helps them to stay calm and maintain focus on their everyday life. And for those who deal with anxiety, the pressure mimics a hug and releases a hormone called oxytocin while slowing down the production of cortisol, the stress hormone. Oxytocin, often called the  “ ”, helps to relieve anxiety and even lower blood pressure. cuddle hormone Although many similar technologies exist, CalmWear is the first to become a long-term solution for hypersensitivity. Compression clothing has the same effect as a baby swaddle, a weighted blanket, or weighted compression vests. CalmWear vs Other Options The first option for those dealing with sensory processing disorder is to wear a on top of their clothes. The problem is these vests are anything but discreet. Their bulky design is a nuisance that many don’t have the patience to deal with.  The solution was to create clothes that are functional while still providing the benefits of a vest. weighted compression vest CalmWear was not the first company to attempt to create an everyday option. But what sets them apart from the others is their ability to maintain their compression for a full day. CalmWear clothes can be worn for a full 48 hours before they start to lose their elasticity. And after that, all you have to do is run them through the wash and they are back to normal. Calming compression clothing has been designed with tactile sensitivity in mind. All of their clothes have external seams and tags to avoid intense discomfort. Image via verishop Who Can Benefit From CalmWear? Compression clothing is for everyone, although it’s a recommended source of treatment for some disorders and illnesses such as: Sensory Processing Disorder Autism ADHD Hypotonia OCD Anxiety Dyspraxia Postural Disorders Fragile X Syndrome Motor Coordination Disorders Premature Births Neonatal abstinence syndrome NAS Accessibility CalmWear has become an essential part of people’s lives. As CalmWear continuously proves its efficacy, it is being considered a legitimate form of therapy. They have been working with different autism funding units worldwide to cover the cost of their compression line for those who need it. The Autism Funding Unit of British Columbia now issues for those who provide proof of purchase. They are hopeful that soon CalmWear will be accessible to those who can’t afford it. refunds Compression 24/7 Compression clothing has become a norm for many people in the last few years. Their design solution is an essential part of letting kids and adults feel comfortable while still being discreet. Everyone should be able to go to school and work being able to focus. CalmWear set out to make comfort for those with sensory needs a reality, and they succeeded. CalmWear is changing the way people live.

CalmWear: Aiding in Sensory Processing Disorder and Hypersensitivity

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