Tap Into Your Amazing Ability to Reduce Stress

Whenever we feel stress, whether due to the frustrations of normal daily life as a caregiver or the result of events out in the world over which we have little or no control, the benefits of simple breathing techniques can bring instantaneous relief.

The power of this relief isn’t just in our imagination – the measurable benefits of conscious breathing practices on health and wellbeing, creativity and concentration, energy and strength, and even PTSD and mental health, have been studied and confirmed by researchers from Harvard, the Cleveland Clinic, the National Institute of Mental Health, the U.S. Military, the Veterans Administration and many others.

Any wonder, then, why I teach breathing techniques in my programs, and suggest pausing for a slow, deep breath regularly in this blog? From both personal experience and feedback from readers and clients, I know without a doubt that simple mindful breathing can be one of the best self-care tools, free or otherwise, in a caregiver’s toolbox.

The following excerpt, from Take Back Your Life: A Caregiver’s Guide to Finding Freedom in the Midst of Overwhelm, has some great advice for bringing more calm, clarity and resilience into even the most stressful situation:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

From Take Back Your Life, Chapter 11:

Did you ever really consider how important breathing is? Most people don’t, since it’s something they do all the time without having to think about it. Paying attention to your breathing is an important part of living consciously and purposefully. It takes twenty-eight days to make a habit, so you can start today with practicing the new habit of life-enhancing breathing.

Three Steps to Life-Enhancing Breathing:

1. Square breathing. Once every hour, Stop! Breathe! Focus! Breathe in slowly and deeply through your nose to the count of four, hold your breath to the count of four and release it gently with a sigh through your mouth to the count of four, then pause to the count of four. Repeat this pattern for sixty seconds, then return to your activity with renewed energy and clarity. (This is also called box breathing; in the military it’s called tactical breathing.)
   .
2. Stop! Breathe! Focus! Whenever you feel stressed, worried, upset, and so on, focus your eyes straight ahead or tilt your head back, stretch your arms open wide, take a slow, deep breath, and say aloud, “I am coping with my life with open arms.” Feel your chest expand, your back muscles stretch, and your entire upper body open up. Repeat this process and the phrase three times. Then allow yourself to refocus on the issue that had stressed you or worried you. Notice the shift that occurs in how you look at the situation.
   .
3. Practice deep breathing. Do this when you can sit or lie down comfortably with your back straight. Place your hands on your abdomen. As you breathe in, keep your shoulders and chest relaxed and focus on getting your breath to push out against your hands as your diaphragm and abdomen expand. (I know that most people have been taught to keep their stomachs in and their chests out, but that style does not promote deep breathing.)

The Bottom Line:

While breathing doesn’t change the situations you’re dealing with, it does give you an opportunity to change how you respond to them, and it absolutely does have an impact on your overall health and vitality.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Put “breathing breaks” on your calendar so you can’t forget them or shrug them off as something you don’t have time for. As you begin to count on the relief they bring even when you’re not particularly stressed, you will find that you rely on them as your go-to first response to hundreds of challenges every week.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~