Hypnosis isn’t just about getting a grown man to quack like a duck. It can also be used to decrease stress and improve cognition. Hypnosis is basically a type of meditation that can induce the theta state in your brain—a state of relaxed brain activity that is comparable to REM sleep. You may remember that REM sleep is crucial to the health of your body and that it is the point in the sleep cycle where you dream. Researchers say that achieving this state helps you relax, improves your creativity, increases mental clarity, and improves cognitive performance.
While you can be hypnotized by someone else or by listening to guided hypnosis audio programs, you can hypnotize yourself by following a few simple steps. First, find a quiet space where you can be alone. Make sure you’re comfortable— that your clothing is nonrestrictive and you’re in a comfortable position. Try sitting instead of lying down, because you don’t want to fall asleep! Then focus on an image—a relaxing picture of a sunset, a candle flame—and take a few deep breaths. Say a positive affirmation, something like, “I am relaxed and calm.” Keep repeating this affirmation while you focus on the image and continue taking deep, relaxing breaths. After a few repetitions, stop saying the affirmation but continue breathing deeply and focusing on the image. Stay in this relaxed state for ten or fifteen minutes (or longer if you’d like). Then bring yourself out of it by saying some- thing to connect you to the real world: “I am now awake, refreshed, and ready.” Then do a few simple exercises, like stretching or touching your toes, to bring you back to your usual waking state.