Remember: Breathe

The Harvard Business Review offered its Management Tips subscribers a succinct but powerful offering yesterday: Breathe. Yes. It's really that simple. Intentional breathing can shift us from panic to resilience, stress to calm. 

And the research backs this up. When we're anxious, frustrated, or angry, we breathe in short, quick, irregular bursts. When we feel joy or relaxed, we breathe more regular, deep, and slow. 

Also, our breathing mimics our emotions. When we inhale, our heart rate speeds up. When we exhale, it slows down. 

To calm (and center) as you notice stress bubbling up, try:

• Breathing in for a count of four. 

• Breathing out for eight. 

• Getting outside as you breathe intentionally, provided air quality is good (the shift of scene can provide wonders).

• Incorporating a delightful activity, like drawing, as you intentionally breathe.

So next time you feel stress building within, take a moment to pause—and breathe. See how your outlook shifts and improves.