{"id":3906,"date":"2023-08-27T13:32:38","date_gmt":"2023-08-27T17:32:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/gretchen-rubins-easy-techniques-to-reduce-anxiety-instantly\/"},"modified":"2023-08-27T13:32:38","modified_gmt":"2023-08-27T17:32:38","slug":"gretchen-rubins-easy-techniques-to-reduce-anxiety-instantly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/gretchen-rubins-easy-techniques-to-reduce-anxiety-instantly\/","title":{"rendered":"Gretchen Rubin\u2019s Easy Techniques to Reduce Anxiety Instantly"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/hop.clickbank.net\/?affiliate=infohatch&amp;vendor=J1R2C\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10614 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px.png\" alt=\"Profit Gen\" width=\"400\" height=\"217\" srcset=\"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px.png 400w, https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px-300x163.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>One minute you feel fine, and the next, you\u2019re stomach\u2019s churning, heart\u2019s racing, head\u2019s spinning\u2026 Well, hello, anxiety.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s not a phenomenon confined to one person; rather, it\u2019s something that everyone experiences at one point or another. It\u2019s so commonplace that there are tons of ways to deal with anxiety.<\/p>\n<p>Limit your caffeine intake, take deep breaths, exercise, pop pills, and so on and so forth. But one that <strong>Gretchen Rubin<\/strong>, a multiple New York Times best-selling author, suggests: live in your five senses.<\/p>\n<p>As a matter of fact, that\u2019s the premise of her book, <em>Life in 5 Senses: How Exploring the Senses Got Me Out of My Head and Into the World<\/em>. And in a sit-down with Vishen on <a href=\"https:\/\/podcast.mindvalley.com\/reduce-anxiety-instantly-with-these-easy-techniques-from-1-nyt-bestselling-author-gretchen-rubin\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Mindvalley Show<\/a>, she doesn\u2019t just discuss anxiety as a debilitating force; she explains how to use the most basic (yet profound) tools we all possess\u2014our five senses.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Watch the full episode:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ep #004 | Reduce Anxiety Instantly | Easy Techniques from #1 NYT bestselling Author Gretchen Rubin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-who-is-gretchen-rubin\">Who Is Gretchen Rubin?<\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019ve ever stumbled upon a bookshelf with titles exploring happiness and human nature, you\u2019ve likely met Gretchen. From <em>The Happiness Project<\/em> to <em>The Four Tendencies<\/em> to <em>Life In Five Senses<\/em>, her work dives into the crevices of everyday life, filled with nuggets of wisdom and insight.<\/p>\n<p>Being a multiple New York Times best-selling author is one, but Gretchen\u2019s also the host of the <em>Get Happier <\/em>podcast and founder of the award-winning app, <a href=\"https:\/\/thehappierapp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Happier<\/em><\/a>. And it\u2019s through these avenues that this modern-day philosopher is helping the masses connect dots we never knew existed.<\/p>\n<p>Now, you might wonder, with so many experts and self-help avenues available, what sets her apart? Simply, it\u2019s her knack for seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>And in her one-on-one with Vishen, she unveils the tapestry of our senses as a roadmap to calm.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-anxiety-and-your-five-senses\">Anxiety and Your Five Senses<\/h2>\n<p>Happiness is Gretchen\u2019s forte. But what\u2019s the thing that often blocks it? Anxiety.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a big deal these days, manifesting as increased feelings of stress, pervasive worrying thoughts, and notable physical reactions. So much so that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/health\/mind\/mental-health-statistics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2023 statistics<\/a> have found:\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Anxiety, along with depression, leads to a yearly <strong>global loss of $1 trillion in productivity<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Due to COVID-19, global cases of <strong>anxiety increased by 25%<\/strong> and depression by 28%.<\/li>\n<li>In the U.S. alone, anxiety disorders <strong>affect 42.5 million adults<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>While it can be seen as an uninvited guest overstaying its welcome, Gretchen reframes this narrative. Instead of focusing on the overwhelm, she suggests directing attention to the senses\u2014sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>When we dial into our senses, there\u2019s so much delight, there\u2019s so much connection, there [are] memories that come from it\u2026 We can reach this right there in our own bodies.<\/p>\n<p><cite>\u2014 Gretchen Rubin, a multiple New York Times best-selling author<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>This approach, also more commonly known as the 5-4-3-2-1 method, is one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.mindvalley.com\/grounding-techniques-for-anxiety\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">grounding techniques for anxiety<\/a>. It breaks you away from your negative thoughts and brings you to the present.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, a <a href=\"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.2466\/06.PR0.116k21w5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">study<\/a> in 2015 showed that one hour of grounding exercises made people with anxiety and depression feel better. And the interesting thing is, it works better than just relaxing.<\/p>\n<p>So the next time you feel those symptoms creeping up on you, try going into the five senses. The best part? You can use it at any time, and no one will even know you\u2019re doing it.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CrDfLQwg8tw\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"\/>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-to-do-for-anxiety-3-tips-from-gretchen-rubin\">What to Do for Anxiety: 3 Tips From Gretchen Rubin<\/h2>\n<p>No two people experience anxiety the same way\u2014that\u2019s a fact. However, there are tools out there that are universal. And they can become game-changers.<\/p>\n<p>So here\u2019s how to ease anxiety with three tips from Gretchen:<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-gratitude-is-the-attitude\">1. Gratitude is the attitude<\/h3>\n<p>Have you ever paused to appreciate the simple joys your senses offer? Being truly grateful, as several <a href=\"https:\/\/ggsc.berkeley.edu\/images\/uploads\/GGSC-JTF_White_Paper-Gratitude-FINAL.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">studies<\/a> show, can change your outlook on life.<\/p>\n<p>Gretchen herself shares an eye-opening moment. While on a New York City street, after a surprising revelation from her eye doctor, she felt a deep surge of appreciation for her senses.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>I thought, \u2018I\u2019ve been overlooking it all,\u2019<\/em>\u201d she recalls.<em> <\/em>\u201c<em>I\u2019ve been walking around in this fog; I\u2019ve been taking it all for granted. And if I lost any of these senses, then how much regret I would feel<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Suddenly, every sight, sound, and smell felt richer, making her realize how much she had been taking for granted. And it\u2019s a powerful reminder for us all\u2014that if you want to feel more in control and at peace, take a moment to acknowledge all that you have.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How Mindvalley can help:<\/strong> \u201c<em>Gratitude is not a thinking thing; it is a feeling<\/em>,\u201d explains <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.mindvalley.com\/srikumar-rao\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Srikumar Rao<\/strong><\/a>, the founder of The Rao Institute. And his Mindvalley program, <em>The Quest for Personal Mastery<\/em>, is one way to learn to embrace it.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019ll help you find a strong inner voice to guide you, especially when things get tough. And best of all, it fits right in with using <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.mindvalley.com\/mindfulness-for-anxiety\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">mindfulness for anxiety<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-use-your-senses\">2. Use your senses<\/h3>\n<p>Have you ever noticed that holding onto something can calm your nerves? Fidget spinners, stroking the beard, holding a pen\u2014these simple acts can offer comfort during anxious moments, according to Gretchen.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s not just about physical objects, though. The same principle applies to meditation, where focusing on your senses forms the core of many practices.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>If you\u2019re feeling very anxious and thinking, \u2018I\u2019m just going to take a minute and I\u2019m just going to dial into my body in my five senses\u2026<\/em>,\u2019\u201d she says. \u201c<em>People do this as a meditation technique where they go through their five senses and they think, \u2018What am I seeing? What am I hearing, smelling, tasting, touching? And so that itself can be very grounding<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In fact, when you meditate, your brain is able to \u201c<em>ignore the negative sensations of stress and anxiety<\/em>,\u201d as Dr. John W. Denninger, the director of research at the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind-Body Medicine at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital, explains in an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/mind-and-mood\/how-meditation-helps-with-depression\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">article<\/a> on <em>Harvard Health Publishing<\/em>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>And that, in turn, can really help calm your mind.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How Mindvalley can help:<\/strong> If you\u2019re looking to practice <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.mindvalley.com\/meditation-for-anxiety\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">meditation for anxiety<\/a>, consider <em>The M Word<\/em> Quest with one of the world\u2019s leading meditation experts, <strong>Emily Fletcher<\/strong>. Unlike traditional methods, this program helps you relax as well as unlock peak performance, boundless energy, and superhuman creativity in a format suited for your modern lifestyle.<\/p>\n<p>Even if you\u2019re swamped with life, the lessons are designed to be short yet impactful. And within just 33 days, you\u2019ll have the tools to enhance every facet of your life, ensuring you not only manage anxiety but also thrive in every situation.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-know-your-personality\">3. Know your personality<\/h3>\n<p>Getting to know yourself is like unlocking a secret map to your life. Why? Well, according to Gretchen, your personality plays a huge part in how you tackle challenges, work with others, and even enjoy your free time.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In her study of habits, she noticed recurring behaviors or tendencies among individuals. She goes on to explain, \u201c<em>I realized that there was a way to understand these patterns until we could really set ourselves up for success or help other people find more success<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And so, to shed light on this, Gretchen categorized people into what she calls \u201cthe four tendencies\u201d:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Upholder.<\/strong> You\u2019re driven by both internal and external expectations. And when you set goals, you meet them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Questioner. <\/strong>You\u2019re internally motivated and will question why you should meet an external expectation. If it aligns with your beliefs, you\u2019ll go for it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Obliger.<\/strong> You often meet external demands but might struggle to meet your own internal expectations. You thrive when you have outer accountability. (Fun fact: Many people have this personality type.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Rebel.<\/strong> You prefer to do things your own way. External expectations? You\u2019re likely to resist. Internal ones? Only if you feel like it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Now, if you\u2019re thinking, <em>\u201cWhich one am I?<\/em>\u201d, you can take <a href=\"https:\/\/gretchenrubin.com\/quiz\/the-four-tendencies-quiz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Four Tendencies Quiz<\/a>. It\u2019ll only take you about seven minutes of your time.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Discover more about The Four Tendencies on The Mindvalley Show:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ep #021 | How Gretchen Rubin\u2019s Famous 5-Minute Quiz Will Effortlessly Enhance Your Life<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>How Mindvalley can help: <\/strong>Want to dive deeper into self-awareness? The <em>From Awesome to Flawesome<\/em> Quest with <strong>Kristina M\u00e4nd-Lakhiani<\/strong> can help you get there.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>First, you\u2019ll learn to be honest with yourself. Then, you\u2019ll use kindness to sail through challenges. And finally, with courage, you\u2019ll open new doors to growth.<\/p>\n<p>And 25 days is what it\u2019ll take to understand why and how to take off the masks you often wear and embrace who you truly are.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-conquer-the-calm-continuum\">Conquer the Calm Continuum<\/h2>\n<p>Getting a grasp on your tendencies and habits is more than just a quirky self-awareness exercise\u2014it\u2019s your way to a happier, more balanced life. And knowing and using your personality to your advantage can set you up for success in every area of life.<\/p>\n<p>Listening to the interview with Gretchen Rubin is one stop on this self-awareness journey. But as you continue on, you might want to explore the rich resources at Mindvalley. Learn from the wisdom of experts such as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Srikumar Rao in <strong><em>The Quest for Personal Mastery<\/em><\/strong><strong> <\/strong>program. You\u2019ll discover how to rewrite your mental models and embrace a life filled with joy and purpose.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Emily Fletcher in <strong><em>The M Word<\/em><\/strong><strong> Quest<\/strong>. You\u2019ll find out how modern meditation techniques can help you stay grounded in life\u2019s chaotic moments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Kristina M\u00e4nd-Lakhiani in <strong><em>From Awesome to Flawesome<\/em><\/strong><strong> Quest<\/strong>. You\u2019ll navigate the heartfelt journey of accepting and loving your true self\u2014every part of it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The icing on the cake? When you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mindvalley.com\/signup\/?utm_source=blog_inline_link&amp;utm_campaign=evergreen_freemium&amp;utm_medium=end_of_article&amp;otag=mv_blog_freemium\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>sign up for a Mindvalley account<\/strong><\/a>, you can sample the first few lessons of these transformative programs for free.<\/p>\n<p>Plus, you gain access to four daily meditations tailored to different needs, including those that help with anxiety. So whenever stress hits, all you need to do is plug in your headphones and find some peace.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Step by step, you make your way forward<\/em>,\u201d Gretchen says. And Mindvalley can be your first.<\/p>\n<p>Welcome in.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async defer src=\"https:\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/hop.clickbank.net\/?affiliate=infohatch&amp;vendor=J1R2C\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10614 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px.png\" alt=\"Profit Gen\" width=\"400\" height=\"217\" srcset=\"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px.png 400w, https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px-300x163.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One minute you feel fine, and the next, you\u2019re stomach\u2019s churning, heart\u2019s racing, head\u2019s spinning\u2026 Well, hello, anxiety.\u00a0 It\u2019s not a phenomenon confined to one [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3907,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3906","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-happiness"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3906","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3906"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3906\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3907"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3906"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3906"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3906"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}