IDEA OF THE DAY: Why conscious breathing is so essential to stress reduction!

IDEA OF THE DAY: Why conscious breathing is so essential to stress reduction!

For many years, I didn’t understand how conscious, deep breathing could be such an effective way to reduce anxiety, feelings of stress and nervousness. Then, I realised that I could reduce a lot of my worries by stopping for a moment, taking a deep breath, and exhaling...

Breathing is just one step you can take towards well-being. You can also take mindful time for yourself, go for a brief walk, or make time for a quick chat with a friend to help fight burnout. Taking time for yourself every day is key.

The importance of deep conscious breathing is my go-to way of dealing with feelings of anxiety and stress. When I feel overwhelmed, it helps me psychologically, physiologically, and anatomically.

This excellent Harvard Business Review article (http://ow.ly/KswP50BW5VA) by Emma Seppälä , Christina Bradley and Michael Goldstein , explains how breathing helps both immediate and long-term stress reduction.

Research shows that different emotions are associated with different forms of breathing, and so changing how we breathe can change how we feel. For example, when you feel joy, your breathing will be regular, deep, and slow. If you feel anxious or angry, your breathing will be irregular, short, fast, and shallow. Changing your breathing rhythm slows your heart rate, triggering your parasympathetic nervous system, and your ability to think rationally returns. I also mentally exhale past troubling thoughts and inhale new positive vibes - it makes me smile too!

How are you managing your daily stresses and anxieties in this New Year? 

I’d love to hear any tips you have to share.

#wellness #health #wellbeing #breathing