Body
The Body cluster explores how physical actions — posture, movement, breathing, and physiological awareness — influence mental performance, emotional state, and decision-making. These experiments draw on research in embodied cognition, exercise science, and psychophysiology.
Why Body Matters
Your body is not just a vehicle for your brain. Research increasingly shows that physical states shape cognitive and emotional outcomes. Standing tall can shift your confidence. Walking can unlock creativity. Reinterpreting your heartbeat can change how stress affects you.
What You’ll Find Here
- Posture experiments that explore how body position affects confidence and presence
- Movement experiments that use walking and exercise to boost creativity and focus
- Stress physiology experiments that reframe the body’s stress response as a resource rather than a threat
Start Here
If you’re new to the Body cluster, start with the Stress Reframing experiment — it’s quick (5 minutes), requires no special setup, and has solid evidence behind it. Then try a Walking Meeting to experience the creativity boost of movement firsthand.
Start Here
Two-Minute Power Pose
Standing in an expansive posture for two minutes before a stressful event may increase feelings of confidence.
Walking Meeting
Conducting meetings while walking boosts creative thinking by approximately 60% compared to sitting.
Stress Reframing
Reappraising stress arousal as helpful rather than harmful improves performance and cardiovascular health.
20-Minute Aerobic Brain Boost
A single 20-minute bout of moderate aerobic exercise immediately improves memory, attention, and mood for hours afterward.
Sleep Wind-Down Ritual
A consistent 30-minute pre-sleep wind-down routine can meaningfully improve sleep quality and next-day cognitive performance.
Experiments
Blue Zone Daily Habits Audit
Adopting three key Blue Zone lifestyle practices for 30 days can measurably reduce daily stress and improve baseline energy.
20-Minute Aerobic Brain Boost
A single 20-minute bout of moderate aerobic exercise immediately improves memory, attention, and mood for hours afterward.
Nature Micro-Dose
Spending as little as 20 minutes in a natural setting three times per week measurably reduces cortisol and improves mood, attention, and creativity.
Two-Minute Power Pose
Standing in an expansive posture for two minutes before a stressful event may increase feelings of confidence.
Sleep Wind-Down Ritual
A consistent 30-minute pre-sleep wind-down routine can meaningfully improve sleep quality and next-day cognitive performance.
Genuine Smile Practice
Practicing genuine (Duchenne) smiling can improve mood, lower stress response, and increase perceived social warmth from others.
Stress Reframing
Reappraising stress arousal as helpful rather than harmful improves performance and cardiovascular health.
Walking Meeting
Conducting meetings while walking boosts creative thinking by approximately 60% compared to sitting.
Talks
Your body language may shape who you are
Amy Cuddy
Mixed / ContestedHow to succeed? Get more sleep
Arianna Huffington
Narrative / ConceptualPositive emotions open our mind
Barbara Fredrickson
ModerateHow to live to be 100+
Dan Buettner
ModerateWhy some people find exercise harder than others
Emily Balcetis
ModerateHow nature can make you kinder, happier, and more creative
Florence Williams
ModerateThe secret life of pronouns
James Pennebaker
HighA simple way to break a bad habit
Judson Brewer
HighHow to make stress your friend
Kelly McGonigal
ModerateHow to make stress your friend
Kelly McGonigal
ModerateWant to be more creative? Go for a walk
Marily Oppezzo
ModerateSleep is your superpower
Matt Walker
HighMichael Pollan: A plant's-eye view
Michael Pollan
ModerateThe hidden influence of social networks
Nicholas Christakis
ModerateHow to make diseases disappear
Rangan Chatterjee
ModerateWhat makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness
Robert Waldinger
HighThe hidden power of smiling
Ron Gutman
ModerateHow meditation can reshape our brains
Sara Lazar
ModerateThe brain-changing benefits of exercise
Wendy Suzuki
High