 Reach Out and Touch Someone
from Bigg Success
October 03, 2008
We learned something fascinating. We would say exciting, but we wouldn t want to give you the wrong impression! There is evidence that lovin , touchin , and squeezin can lower your stress! ___ ___ Holding hands In a study of women, researchers found that holding hands reduces stress. They divided their participants into two groups: one group held hands with their spouse while the control group didn t. Then they gave all of the women a low-level electric shock. The hand-holding group showed lower stress levels. Hugging Good Housekeeping published an article about some other studies that have discovered simple ways to reduce stress. We just talked about hand-holding; now let s add hugging. In one study cited in this article, researchers had a group hold hands with their spouses for ten minutes, followed by a twenty-second hug. The other group just sat there, not touching their spouses. Researchers then asked all the participants to talk about a past event that stressed them out. The group that had held hands and hugged showed a lower heart rate and lower blood pressure that those who had not. Kissing and more The same article cites a study that showed that couples who kiss regularly also show less stress. This is all great news for couples who are together, but what if your significant other isn t around when you re feeling a lot of stress? Or what if you re single? Studies have also shown that a hug from a friend or a professional massage does the trick, too! The personal touch at work Obviously, there s a fine line to touching in the workplace. However, if done properly, it can be an effective tool. Of course, if you re just using it as a tool , it won t come across as genuine. ___ I ve had people shake my hand who touched the bottom part of my forearm up toward my elbow. I have to admit, I often feel a stronger connection with a person who does this naturally. ___ ___ I ve noticed that when I shake hands with someone, I ll often clasp my other hand on top. It feels more special than just a handshake. ___ ___ I ve learned that when someone is over-exuberant, irritated or upset if you softly put a hand on their shoulder, it s a way of saying that you understand and they calm down. ___ ___ I ve seen managers literally give someone a pat on the back not the lower back, but up between the shoulder blades. It makes them feel good. ___ And of course, in sports, you often see the coach give the players a little pat on the butt. We don t recommend that for the workplace! ___ Ah c mon, I m going to ask George to turn the other cheek! ___ ___ Want to be a BIGG success? Get the tips and tools you need by subscribing to Subscribe to the Bigg Success Weekly it s FREE! ___ Subscribe to The Bigg Success Show in iTunes. Subscribe to the Bigg Success feed. Related posts A Wii Bit of Fun (Image by Mrinkk)
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