One Minute to a Smarter, Happier, Sexier you!

It's easy to get bogged down by responsibilities, deadlines and stress that you find yourself thinking, "How will I ever get some time for myself?" Well new research suggests that all it takes is one minute (or two!) for you to feel like a smarter, happier as well as sexier version of you! Here are five great ways to slip these fast and effective practices and activities into your life.

1. Keeping the brain on its toes

To give those synapses a workout, experts recommend "neurobics," a term coined by Lawrence Katz and Manning Rubin, authors of Keep Your Brain Alive. This workout does not have to involve completing a sudoku puzzle in a minute or solving that Mathematical brain teaser on the way to work. It can be as simple as rearranging your workspace -- by shifting the stapler to the left and putting your files in the bottom most drawer instead of the shelf above. These minor changes might seem insignificant but chances are you'll still reach for your stapler on the right or the files on the shelf. "That moment when you catch yourself and redirect your actions reflects your brain's increased alertness," write Katz and Rubin.

2. Pen down those thoughts

A journal is a great way for you to relax and calm yourself but not everyone has the luxury of writing in a journal. But with majority of society carrying smart phones these days, penning down a thought is as simple as talking to Siri on the iPhone or typing out a few sentences on your notepad app. It takes less than a minute and could make you feel a whole lot better.

3. Amp up your sex appeal

Slip into something red for an instant 'Pow' to your allure. A study in an American university has shown that the colour red grabs attention and this is known as the "red dress effect," whereby men are more attracted to women in the scarlet shade. If a red dress is too obvious a choice for you, just swatch those lips with some red lipstick or paint your nails a coat of chilli red for that instant feeling of sexiness.

4. Get organised

A great way to start organising your messy home or workplace is to come up with a to-do list. While jotting down the things you have to do won't make the clutter melt away, it will allow you to focus. According to a study in The Journal of Neuroscience, piles of dirty laundry, disorganised files and a messy bedroom all vie for our attention, cutting our focus by half. So take that moment to jot down what you need to do, then tackle them one at a time.

5. Do something

Yes, we all have heard about the power of positive thinking however a study from New York University found that fantasising about your future can actually have a negative effect! So instead of thinking happy thoughts, think practical ones. Just 30 seconds of focused reflection on how you can learn to speak Spanish and travel Europe is far more effective than daydreaming about what life will be like once you're there in Europe speaking like a native Spaniard.

Written by

Wafa Marican

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