EasyBreezyMind
New research on stress, explained plainly
One open-access study at a time: what the researchers did, who took part, what they found and what it doesn’t prove. Every paper is free to read and published under a Creative Commons licence.
Does slower breathing work better? What a 400-person trial found
A four-week trial found no added stress benefit of coherent breathing over another guided rhythm. Here is what that comparison can—and cannot—tell us.
Read →Micro-breaks at work: less fatigue, without a productivity promise
What a review of 22 study samples found about brief pauses, energy and fatigue—and what it cannot tell us about anxiety or the perfect break.
Read →Meditation apps and sleep: what a small student trial can tell us
An original guide to reading a one-month meditation-app pilot, its limits, and a gentle evening experiment.
Read →Your body can feel nervous even when you are ready: a climbing study
In a small trial, self-compassion writing changed physical performance nerves—but not anxious thoughts. A useful distinction before your next big moment.
Read →Make the next step smaller: what research says about if–then plans
A meta-analysis found a modest benefit for goal attainment. Use an original planning worksheet to turn one intention into a practical response.
Read →When your inner critic clocks in: what a self-compassion trial found
A four-week programme for healthcare staff showed promise for stress. Here is what it tested—and an original, private reflection you can try.
Read →Myth check: can exercise prevent anxiety from starting?
A meta-analysis of prevention trials found no evidence that physical activity prevents anxiety in people who don’t have it — but the evidence base is tiny.
Read →Tai chi and yoga lowered perceived stress in a meta-analysis of 17 trials
Mind–body exercise improved heart rate variability markers and reduced perceived stress across 17 medium-to-high quality randomized trials.
Read →Writing about positive emotions reduced test anxiety in a 30-day trial
Students with high test anxiety who wrote about positive emotions for 20 minutes a day scored significantly lower on test anxiety than a control group.
Read →Walking reduced anxiety across 75 randomized trials
A large 2024 meta-analysis found walking reduced anxiety and depressive symptoms, whether indoors or outdoors, alone or in groups.
Read →Strength training reduced anxiety in young adults — but not worry
In an 8-week randomized trial, guideline-based resistance training significantly reduced anxiety symptoms compared with a wait-list.
Read →Can a short mindfulness app course reduce stress and irritability?
Novice meditators using a brief app-based mindfulness program improved in irritability, mood and stress more than people listening to an educational audiobook.
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