Life is not a sprint: why do people who are more anxious find it harder to succeed?

Have you noticed that those people who spend their days in a hurry for results often end up with things going against their wishes? People who appear to be slow paced are actually more likely to achieve their goals. This is not mysticism, modern psychological research has revealed its mysteries.

1. Psychological traps behind anxiety

1. Cognitive resources are heavily occupied

When a person is in an anxious state, the activity of the prefrontal cortex of the brain will significantly weaken. This means that the function of the brain regions we use for decision-making and judgment has decreased by about 40%.

2. Easy to fall into the "tunnel view"

Harvard Business School research found that anxious people naturally narrow their field of vision by 30%, just like looking through a tunnel and only noticing the target in front of them, ignoring other important information.

3. Decision quality declines linearly.

People who make decisions in a state of anxiety have a regret rate of up to 67% afterwards. This is because the emotional brain suppresses the normal functioning of the rational brain.

2. Three benefits of slowing down

1. Higher fault tolerance

Allowing oneself to slow down is equivalent to leaving a buffer period for each decision. Statistics show that thinking about decisions for 24 hours can increase accuracy by 28%.

2. Stronger opportunity recognition ability

On average, people who are not in a hurry can notice 53% more effective information in their surrounding environment. These pieces of information often bring unexpected gains.

3. More stable interpersonal relationships

A calm way of handling things increases the trust of others by 41%, which is particularly important in areas that require cooperation.

3. Practical methods for cultivating "slow ability"

1. Set a mandatory cooling off period

When facing important decisions, set a "24-hour cooling off period" for yourself. During this period, you can go for a walk, sleep, but don't make any decisions.

2. Establish a decision list

and write down the pros and cons of each choice on paper. The writing process itself can naturally slow down thinking speed by 30%.

3. Practice mindfulness breathing

Spend 10 minutes a day focusing on breathing. Long term persistence can enhance the thickness of the prefrontal cortex and improve emotional control.

4. Redefine the rhythm of success

1. Distinguish between real deadlines

Automatically extending deadlines given by others by 30%, you will find that 80% of "urgent" situations are actually fake.

2. Establish a progress buffer zone

Reserve 20% of flexible time for any plan. In actual execution, you will appreciate this wise arrangement.

3. Focus on process indicators

Break down big goals into measurable small progress every week. Paying attention to these small milestones can reduce anxiety. Success is never a 100 meter sprint, but a carefully designed marathon. Those who seem to walk slowly often go further because of their steady pace. Remember, the greatest efficiency in life is not to rush. When you learn to be friends with time, the desired results will naturally come as promised.