Sleeping in a Tank

What if there was a way to completely and momentarily escape the world around us? What if there was a way to only hear what is going in our head and experience nothing else? And, if there was a way to encounter all of this, what would it be like? Would it be relaxing? Would it mend mental wounds that prevent rest? Well, perhaps we might not need to ask further. Perhaps we might have a way to experience it first hand and find another way to help us sleep at night. However, the method to experience this potential phenomenon is straight out of a Sci-Fi thriller. Your best night’s sleep might be waiting inside of a Isolation Tank.

Behold! Today’s modern isolation tank! Not quite as intimidating as the movies portray, but almost as equally mysterious as they depict. The Isolation Tank was first invented in 1953 by neuroscientist John Lilly as a way to study response in the brain to a limited sensory output. “The tank immersed the user into a totally dark and silent environment in which sound and vision as well as other sensory inputs were virtually eliminated.” writer Dr. Christopher Winter notes. “The theory at the time was if all sensory inputs were cut off to the brain, the brain would reflexively go to sleep.” John Lilly would later go on to describe himself and these users as “psychonauts,” a fitting name to describe those who choose to float in this void. These aptly named Psychonauts would float on to push the boundaries of our perception involving conscious thought and question the definitions of sentience while senses are isolated. What started out as a scientific study on our minds and consciousness, by Lilly, became a sudden realization of the potential Isolation Tanks could have on our ability to recover mentally. This recovery could also lead to, supposedly, the best sleep of our lives.

With everyday life there is stress. Stress of work, stress of school, stress of exercise, etc. The main point is that stress is almost inherently in each and every aspect of our everyday. This stress weighs heavy on our minds and bodies and not exhausts us physically but also mentally. Prolonged exposure to these stresses without relief and recovery can lead to more serious problems. The Isolation Tank hails itself as a way to allow the mind to relax and, in a way, begin to heal itself or, at the very least, escape the stress for awhile. When floating in the tank, the water is the same temperature as our skin, the lights are completely off, and the capsule is sound proof. All these factors leave the active mind without the subconscious processing of the senses, and in other words, leaves the floater with their thoughts and nothing else. With just our thoughts and nothing else being registered, we may be able to peer into our minds and fix what is broken or calm what is hectic. At the very least, a user can calmly float and take a well-deserved nap.

Without actually trying one yet, I cannot say that the tank is a divine gift from above that has cured what keeps me up at night. Though I must admit, the list of what tank users have reported being relieved of makes me want to sign up immediately. The image of just floating carefree and detached from reality sounds like the goal of most vacations; even if it is for an hour or so. If you are stressed, exhausted, or just need a quick getaway, perhaps looking up your local float tank center and becoming a Psychonaut could be the perfect fit for you.

 

References:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-christopher-winter/sleeping-around-how-to-sleep-in-a-sensory-deprivation-tank_b_7293436.html

How to Deal with Stress at Work

We all feel stress from time to time, especially during our working lives. There is always a deadline that has to be met or a fire that has to be put out. Luckily, there are some habits that we can adopt to help us cope.

In honor of Stress Awareness Monthhere are some tips that can help you relieve stress and get you through the work week.

Get Some Rest

Although you’ve probably heard this a million times before, getting 7-9 hours of sleep is essential for starting your day off right. One hour before you go to sleep, power down all of your devices (besides your alarm clock, of course), and make sure that the room is dark. This will help you fall asleep faster and maintain your REM cycle for a longer stretch throughout the night.

Prioritize

Making a daily to-do list and budgeting your time can help you maintain achievable goals. Organize your list in order of priority, that way you get the most important projects accomplished first.

Delegate

Remember, you don’t have to hold the entire company on your shoulders. Trying to be a Yes-person constantly can be a drain you and will ultimately make your productivity suffer. Make sure that you have a great support system to help you with tasks. 

Keep Your Work Life and Personal Life Separate

When you are at home, make sure that you unplug your “work brain.” Oftentimes when we get home from work, we feel compelled to check our emails or social media channels to ensure that nothing is going wrong while we are away from our desks. Constantly being on alert can increase stress levels and lower productivity during the hours that we are at work. If you must check your email while you are at home, try to limit yourself to looking only once.

Keep Your Desk Clean

Now, this might not work for everyone. Some people thrive in “organized chaos,” but if you see yourself taking a large chunk of your day trying to locate something on your desk, you might need to reorganize.

Write Down What Stresses You Out

Identifying what actually triggers your stress is paramount to reducing it. Every few days write down two things that you feel are causing you the most stress. After you have a few items recorded, study it. If you see a pattern, then brainstorm ways that you can change your habits to relieve, or at least lessen, your stress levels.

Take A Full Lunch

No matter how much time your company gives you for lunch, use that time wisely. We often want to inhale our lunches in a few minutes so we can get back to our tasks, but if you just take your time and refocus your energy, you can find that your productivity will rise and stress levels will fall.

In Conclusion

These are just a couple of ways that stress can be eliminated at work. Finding your own combination of stress relief techniques can greatly help you both physically and mentally. So take some time for yourself, take a deep breath, and relax.