In this episode, Dr. Kelly talks about the importance of reducing heart rate variability in order to perform at a high level under pressure. Heart rate variability is the root cause of anxiety and stress, and it can make it very difficult to think and perform clearly.
00:00:00.000Under pressure, what I work with my athletes on, is not lowering their heart rate,
00:00:04.020although I think a lower heart rate is better for performance than higher.
00:00:07.060But the truth is, that's not really what messes us up.
00:00:09.320What messes us up is heart rate variability, where your heart's just at different beats.
00:00:13.960The variability quotient literally causes almost like a lobotomy for you.
00:00:17.600It's very difficult to think and perform clearly.
00:00:20.940So one of the things I'm constantly working on is just calming the variability,
00:00:25.220which is through breathing, which is through intention, which is through gratitude.
00:00:28.120When I'm just aware I'm doing it, the thought loses its power over me, the anxiety loses its power over me.
00:00:34.720Once I'm aware of something, its power is reduced, and then I can use the techniques I have to reduce my heart rate variability so that I perform at a high level.