S2 Ep 70: What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal About Getting It Right When You Have To with Dr. Sian Beilock
Jul 22, 2022
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Dr. Sian Beilock, a renowned author focused on performance anxiety, shares fascinating insights on why we choke under pressure and how to prevent it. She discusses the impact of anxiety on performance and the importance of reframing discomfort as a growth opportunity, especially for kids. Delving into how parental values shape academic choices, she emphasizes nurturing resilience and a growth mindset in children. Dr. Beilock also highlights strategies for creating supportive environments that prepare kids for high-stakes situations without the burden of perfection.
Understanding the difference between 'good stress' and 'bad stress' can empower children to reinterpret anxiety as motivation in high-pressure situations.
Promoting a growth mindset by valuing effort over inherent ability helps children build resilience and positively embrace challenges and setbacks.
Deep dives
Back to School Essentials
Convenience is critical during the busy back-to-school season, as parents often find themselves juggling school lunch preparations, supplies, and last-minute projects. Services like Instacart offer fast delivery options, enabling parents to receive essential items like fresh fruit, snack packs, backpacks, and school supplies quickly. This allows families to alleviate the stress of unexpected school demands, ensuring that they have everything needed for their children. Utilizing such services can help parents manage their busy schedules more effectively during the school year.
Navigating Single Parenting with Stir
Stir is a new dating app specifically designed for single parents, allowing them to connect without the pressure that often comes from traditional dating platforms. This app recognizes that single parents might have unique challenges, such as managing busy schedules and being upfront about their family commitments. Features like Stir Time help streamline the scheduling of dates, which is valuable for single parents who are trying to find time for dating amidst their responsibilities. By fostering a supportive environment, Stir encourages single parents to embrace their identity while seeking companionship.
Understanding and Reframing Stress
The conversation highlights the varied interpretations of stress, emphasizing the distinction between beneficial 'good stress' and detrimental 'bad stress.' While both types of stress can manifest physically, their impact on performance is influenced by individual perception and mindset. Learning to reinterpret physiological responses, such as a racing heart or sweaty palms, can turn anxiety into motivation for optimal performance. Parents can aid children in approaching high-pressure situations by reframing their thoughts on stress and focusing on aspects they can control.
Encouraging a Growth Mindset
Cultivating a growth mindset in children involves emphasizing effort and perseverance over innate ability, particularly in challenging subjects like math. By encouraging kids to view their performance as a reflection of their dedication and hard work rather than fixed talent, parents can foster resilience. This approach includes validations of effort alongside constructive feedback, especially after setbacks or challenges. Acknowledging that learning involves making mistakes allows children to understand that these experiences contribute to their overall development, encouraging them to embrace challenges positively.
Why do we choke when we've rehearsed something a million times? How do we set our kids up for success in situations where performance anxiety can get the best of them? Join me in conversation with Dr. Sian Beilock, author of Choke, about why we choke and how to avoid it.
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