This 60 Second Exercise will help you Reduce Stress Instantly

If you're anything like me, you find yourself stressed occasionally. That's just part of being a human. I will admit that there are times where it seems like I've been stressed more than normal, especially after a difficult week. We all have busy lives and we don't always have a lot of time to give ourselves a few moments to relax. The good news is that you can start to instantly reduce your stress in 60 seconds. If you're wondering how that's possible or what that exercise looks like, you've come to the right place. This is one of my favorite breathing and calming exercises to help me feel more zen. So let's get right into it.

Here's how we're going to reduce your stress- Find a comfortable position, close your eyes, and begin to breathe in with deep and slow controlled breaths.

I know what you're thinking- that can't possibly be it? Well, yes and no. Breathing is something we do every single second of the day without really giving it that much thought- if you're reading this, you're already breathing and alive (or you're a ghost; no judgement). But focused, controlled breathing in a deep and slow sequence takes a little more effort and concentration. So what we're going to do is breathe, but in a deep and slow pattern of 4 steps:

Step 1: With your eyes closed, take an inhale breath and count to 6 as slowly as you can.

Step 2: At the top of your 6 count, hold your breath for one second.

Step 3: Exhale your breath to a 6 count as slowly as you can.

Step 4: Repeat steps 1-3 for a complete 60 seconds.

That's it. Repeat this exercise as many times as you need throughout your day. A consistent practice of this exercise can not only help you reduce stress in the immediate, but it can help you learn to create a habit of taking time for yourself to find a space where you can begin to relax.

The key with an exercise like this is to focus on being PRESENT and in the moment. It might seem tricky at first, but the more you practice, the easier it's bound to become. Don't worry if you feel like it doesn't come naturally to you at first. They say practice makes perfect, so don't get discouraged if it takes a few attempts to get into the right headspace.

There will be moments in your life where stress will occur, and that's completely natural. This exercise is not meant to completely CURE your stress in 60 seconds, but rather reduce it. The more you practice this, the easier it will be, and over time you'll find that your stress levels have lowered. So keep trying, keep going-

And Lastly, Remember to Always....

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