Practice Mindful Breathing
Stress seems a constant in the world today, and often most of us rarely have enough time to do everything we want to do during our day. Besides our job and other commitments, other things that may contribute to stress include copious amounts of caffeine, and very little restful sleep. All of these may become a recipe for a tough day! Subsequently, taking time to pause, slow down, and be mindful of your breath can create an immediate calming sensation for the mind, body, and spirit. One activity you could do is the 4-7-8 or "Relaxing" Breath Exercise. Whenever you feel stressed out, just do the following: Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound.
Close your mouth and inhale quietly through your nose to a mental count of four.
Hold your breath for a count of seven.
Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound to a count of eight.
This is one breath. Now inhale again and repeat the cycle three more times for a total of four breaths.Along with meditation, this exercise may calm the nerves better than any drug (which may lose it's effectiveness over time). Also, don't do more than four breaths the first month of practice, and eventually (if possible) do eight complete breaths. Some studies have shown that breathing exercises can be a useful tool for anxiety and panic attacks, as well as really stressful situations. As always, please consult your health or medical professional for any questions.
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