Sometimes you get so busy that you almost forget to breathe. But its important – I would go so far as to say it is a life saver. Deep breathing is a quick and easy method to get you focused and relieve anxiety.
5 simple steps:
It is better to set aside a few minutes but even three repetitions may be enough to calm you down. This can be done at work or even at home with a neighbor trying to learn the ukulele. However, get into an as anxious free environment as possible.
- Imagine a box in front of you.
- On the first side breathe in through your nose for 2 seconds.
- Hold it for 2 seconds on the next side.
- Then breathe out with your mouth for two seconds.
- Wait another two seconds on the 4th side and repeat at least three times, preferably for a few minutes.
3 Tips:
- If helpful, repeat a mantra. It can be “vine, vidi, vici”, “I came, I saw, I conquered”. Whatever calms your anxiety, and inspires. If there are 2 or 4 words you can get into a rhythm on the sides box, all the better.
- You do want to be in a place that you do not feel awkward if someone hears you repeatedly breathing heavily.
- Do not judge it too hastily if you are not trying it in the right environment (quiet, good lighting, comfy chair, etc.)
All non profit employees should be happy and productive – you should enjoy the work that is meaningful to you and the world and make the most of the time you put into it. There will be high-pressure times, but every day should not feel like an all-nighter in college before finals, cramming everything together last minute. Good planning is key, but this is a quick method that you can use no matter what of preventing that.
Image from Shawn Rossi.