REFOCUS ON SMALL TASKS

After a stressful day, you scarf down a piece of chocolate cake, triggering a cascade of “what the heck” decisions, from bingeing on more comfort food to impulsively shopping online. If this sounds familiar, your Right Emotion brain, which craves a comfort rush, has taken the wheel. Though this part of your brain is a creative powerhouse, says Bolte Taylor, when allowed to go unchecked, it can also create chaos.

Overcome temptation and regain a sense of control by switching into Left Thinking brain. “The key is to create some order with something small like walking the dog or doing the dishes,” advises Bolte Taylor. This simple reset helps restore the structure and organization that exemplify Left Thinking. Even doing something as simple as taking a bath is enough to help you slow down and change gears, she says. In fact, the smaller your task, the better, because it allows for a clear beginning, middle and end—a sense of closure and accomplishment that helps subdue swirling emotions.