Similarly, your gaze can influence your mental and emotional state. “When you look down, you’re sending the signal to your autonomic nervous system [that it’s] time to get sleepy and just relax,” says Alexander. Your body assumes you’re going to wind down, and you experience less energy in preparation for rest.
That being said: When you want to feel more energetic, Alexander says all you have to is raise your gaze: “When you’re looking up, it’s sending the signal that it’s time to wake up, time to get creative, time to come up with ideas. You know, creative thoughts, energy,” he says. Other experts back him up, too: Research shows that looking out at wide distances actually activates the parasympathetic nervous system and helps to reduce stress, increase creativity, and enhance problem-solving skills.
