01-06-2025
Use Your Body-Brain Connection To Boost Your Career
body brain connection
We tend to think of success at work as largely a mental game, not just getting the right education and training and committing to lifelong learning, as this column has written before, but also controlling your mindset, such as by not over-focusing on negative feedback, for example, or viewing your work and life as being on the same team. But your body also plays a role in your career—and not just by showing up for meetings on time, professionally dressed. Learn to listen to your body-brain connection.
Your body sends signals to your brain all day long; recognizing and using them can help you be happier and more productive. This is the argument made by Janice Kaplan in her new book, What Your Body Knows about Happiness, which harnesses the now-overwhelming evidence of the body-brain connection that comes from fields including psychology, neuroscience and medicine. Kaplan is a journalist, former editor-in-chief of the Sunday newspaper supplement Parade magazine, and a prolific author.
Janice spoke how the research shows that happiness and success are also an outside job, meaning, you can use your body to boost your mood, productivity, stamina, focus, and creativity—the traits you need for a long and rewarding career.
' The body stuff gives you another tool in your tool box. When things are going wrong or you're having a hard time, it's a good idea to try to look for the positive, but sometimes your mind doesn't want to do that. In part, our brains are always scanning our bodies for information. If you're tense at work and trying to tell yourself you're fine, your brain is not buying it. The tool that people aren't aware of is making it work the other way, so that your body is sending the message rather than your brain.'
'When you're going into a difficult situation, you often get anxious. Your muscles get tense, your hands are sweaty, your voice starts trembling. That takes away from the strength of your case. But our brains take cues from our bodies, so if you try to tell yourself, 'I'm calm,' your brain won't believe it. Instead, think about what other emotions fit with that tension in your body, such as excitement and eagerness. You can turn around the symptoms that your body is feeling by saying, 'My body is preparing for a challenge. This is exciting. That's why I'm feeling this.' Then approach the conversation with the same symptoms, but in a positive way.'
nervous woman
'You're reframing it, but with the symptoms that you have. People will try to ignore what their body is saying and instead try to talk themselves out of it. They'll say, 'I'm calm. I can handle it.' But if your body isn't feeling that way, you're in a conundrum of disconnection. Instead, recognize the symptoms, and see them in a positive way. That's the difference. When your body is stressed, it means your body is preparing for a challenge and it's positive. The anxiety means you're charged. You're ready.
'Things like asking for a promotion can make people anxious. Instead of thinking you're nervous, you can go in with the attitude of: 'I am so excited to tell you about all the things I have done. I am so excited to tell you about the positive contributions I have made. And I'm eager to do all of this.' It's a different approach than to feel like, 'I am begging someone to give me a promotion.' It's the same sensation of adrenaline and cortisol running high, but it's approaching it differently.
'It works for me. Before I give a speech, I feel a little anxious. I remind myself, 'I'm really excited to share this with people. To tell them what I know and present it to them.' It's a little twist but it's amazing how well it works.'
'If you're really diligent and working hard, you make yourself sit at your desk, hunched over your computer, until you get your work done. You're like, 'I'm not going to get up until I figure this out!' That's the worst thing you can do. There is great research showing that movement inspires creativity more than anything else. A Stanford study found that when people were asked to come up with ideas, they came up with 50% more ideas when they were on a treadmill than when they were sitting. Other studies show an 80 to 100% increase in ideas. This is not new. The poet Wordsworth wrote about how he could only write his poems when he was walking. Henry David Thoreau talked about the motion of his legs inspiring the thoughts in his brain. The fluidity of our bodies contributes to the fluidity of our minds. We forget that because the normal position is hunched over.
'Different people come up with different schedules, but allow yourself to realise that you're not procrastinating or being lazy when you take that walk or going for a run. You are increasing your productivity and creativity. There are little things you can do that I talk about. Stand or sit up straighter, and you feel more positive. Again, the brain is scanning the body. You slouch when you're depressed, and that gives your brain messages of despair. When you're having a hard time, stand up straight, and walk around the room with a straight back. Give a fake smile; the facial feedback hypothesis says that your brain is constantly checking the feedback of your face. '
Recognise and harness the signals your body sends to your brain and use this body-brain connection to improve your performance and boost your career.
