Tip to release stress and get unstuck: Panoramic vision

Today I started a draft on this topic. I'm going to revise it for length, clarity, and concision as usual. Here's a peek:

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We've all heard about changing our breathing to modulate our stress levels. Changing our vision can change our stress levels too!

I first learned about how we can use panoramic vision one year ago while listening to Stanford neurobiologist Andrew Huberman. He's one of my favorite science communicators and he specializes in studying vision.

Huberman's talked about how we can lower our stress levels through changing our gaze. If you look in the distance, such as at a horizon, and let your gaze roam around, your eyes will dilate. You're now using your peripheral vision.  You've enter a mode of vision known as panoramic vision or optic flow. 

This article explains more of the science behind foveal (focused) vs. panoramic vision: https://musicmindandmovement.com/blog/broaden-your-vision.  I like how the article points out that even in situations in which we may default to using focal vision, like reading, we can purposefully employ panoramic vision.

Huberman emphasizes that down-regulation that panoramic vision promotes will lower stress.

Beyond stress, I'd say that it unlocks creativity. Because creativity often needs space (like literal space to look out into) to flourish. Mathematicians stuck on proofs will often go on walks and come back refreshed and with new answers. Many get their best ideas on walks. Or even in the shower, where they tend to zone out and stop focusing on one thing. 

When I'm very stuck on something, or just in a low mood, I'll go outside and very purposefully look toward the horizon and use all corners of my vision. Doing so enhances my mood and subsequent productivity more than just a typical walk does, in which I'm not so deliberate about finding that horizon and scanning it.

The physical act of looking far away to calm down and open up your mind is like a little secret weapon. You can use it anywhere you go and it'll reset you. It feels great.

To create a work environment conducive to being able to look far away, of course I'd recommend working somewhere with windows. And before falling into a slump, get up and keep your eye focus from locking in one place. Especially something very near like a smartphone or computer screen. You’ll think more clearly and feel more calm.

Maybe this is one of the reasons surfers are so stereotypically relaxed. They're often looking at the ocean, reading the water and distant waves. Surfing is a very zen activity which I'd like to discuss more about in the future, after having tried it once and known dedicated hobbyists.