Stress, wellbeing and cognitive practices

Watch Craig extend the exploration of default mode to examine how it leads to stress and reduced performance and then discuss the ‘Big 4’ cognitive practices – perception, non-attachment, acceptance and presence of mind.

Talking point

Within the Comments, consider sharing with other learners what you have learned about the relationship between default mode and stress, and its impacts on performance. You can also share your thoughts on the following questions:

• When you are in default mode, have you noticed how it leads to getting stressed?
• In what ways does the fight/flight response change your breathing and create other changes in your body?
• What kind of things such as worrying, dwelling, judging, reacting does your attention get hooked up in that drives this reaction?
• What effect does this have on your cognitive (and therefore academic/work) performance?

Remember to only share things that you’re happy for others to read in an open forum.

You might like to take some time to read comments made by other learners, and if you find these comments interesting, respond to them. Remember you can also ‘like’ comments or follow other learners throughout the course.

Would you like to learn more about mindfulness-based stress reduction?

If you’d like to learn more about mindfulness-based stress reduction, go to See also for a link to a scientific review paper on the impact of mindfulness for stress reduction.