I know I’m not the only person here that literally has everyday of the week scheduled out to the minute. For real, whether it’s work, school, working out, taking care of the kids, or social life-ing, adulting is exhausting and stressful. So, it’s pretty critical that we find ways to unwind.
But like, I don’t have time for that. I said that to my boxing coach after she asked me if I do any self-care besides working out and she looked like she wanted to knock me out. She had a point though, working out is honestly just another item on my list to check off— and if it’s on a list under errands and homework, it certainly doesn’t feel like self-care. Here’s what she told me about the power of deep breathing.
90 SECONDS OF DEEP BREATHING
Do it! Seriously all it takes is 90 seconds at any point in your day to make a huge impact. Deep breathing has countless benefits. Not only does it physically send a message to your brain to calm down, it physically relaxes your muscles. Deep breathing is literally a built-in stress reliever, so it’s the perfect way to end a jam-packed day. Since you’re literally relieving stress as you breathe, you’re also relieving your body of general aches and pains and toxins. Doing this right before bed will also help you fall asleep faster because you are literally slowing down your heartbeat and this will help you stay asleep.
Besides the physical benefits, deep breathing is amazing for your mental health as well. Consider it 90 seconds of meditating. But of course it doesn’t really count unless you commit to clearing your mind. So long as you focus on not focusing, deep breathing can relieve anxiety and elevate your mood altogether. All that said, it’s important to practice deep breathing properly, which does require some practice.
- Close your eyes.
- Inhale through your nose, while expanding your stomach for 6 seconds.
- Hold your breath for 3 seconds.
- Then exhale through your mouth, pushing all the air out for 6 seconds.
- Repeat!
It’s pretty simple, but it’s critical to focus on nothing but breathing! Don’t think about your brunch date this weekend, don’t think about the report that’s due tomorrow, clear your mind!
Alright friends, I took my coach’s advice and have been practicing this 90 seconds thing for about a week now. Real talk: IT WORKS! Seriously, I mean it’s not like I don’t stress anymore, but it just feels good to end the day with a dose of mindfulness. Try it out!
How do you relax at the end of the day? Let us know in the comments!
VINAZINE 