Breathing Activities to Clear your Head and Restore Your Thinking

You need a nap. You are juggling responsibilities and feeling overwhelmed. Your supervisor expects you to complete your assigned tasks within the stated timeframe. Colleagues consult with you throughout the day. The constant interruptions are frustrating, but this is part of your job.

The pace of your job often makes you feel angry, anxious or stressed. You work hard, but the constant pull for your attention and time wears on you. In order to stay on track, you have to clear your head so that you can think. You want a few minutes to get your mind together.

I know this feeling well. That is one of the reasons I wrote Stress is Personal: your personal starter guide for stress relief and made it available for free. The 36 page guide contains stress relieving tips that can be completed in 30 minutes or less. It will help you to understand how stress affects you personally. You can also choose the stress relief techniques that work well for you.

You will have an opportunity to download “Stress is Personal: Your Personal Starter Guide for Stress Relief” at the end of this post.

Here are three activities that I personally use to clear my mind. Using mindfulness techniques and simple yoga postures.

Simple Breathing – lie on the floor and place your legs on a chair or a stabilization ball. Your legs should be at a 90 degree angle. You may place a small pillow or blanket in the small of your back for comfort. Place a light object on your stomach. It could be a small toy, ball or keys. You should be able to see the item without it feeling heavy.

Bring your attention and awareness to your breath as it goes into your abdomen. Notice how the abdomen extends causing the object to rise each time you inhale. Notice how the abdomen contracts causing the object to go down as you exhale.

Variation 1
Image your lungs filling to capacity like a balloon. As the lungs fill, they push the abdomen out. As the air is released from the lungs, the belly button pushes to the backbone squeezing the air out.

Variation 2
Place one hand on your upper chest near your collar bone. Place the other hand on your abdomen. As you inhale pay attention to how your abdomen rises. Your chest should move slightly in comparison.

I invite you to download your free copy of “Stress is Personal; Your Personal Starter Guide to Stress Relief.” This 36 page guide will give you activities that will help you to prevent, manage, and relieve overwhelming stress.

For more suggestions, join the “Get Through the Day Without Losing It” 7 Day Challenge. Go beyond counting to 10 when you are pushed to the limit. Learn healthy ways to calm your mind and relax your body in 30 minutes or less. Click here to sign up and receive your first session.

Marcyline Bailey created the Happy Half Hour Club for “hardworking professionals who want to be happy.” We provide stress relieving tips and techniques to calm your mind and relax your body in 30 minutes or less. Join our Facebook group to share comments, questions, and suggestions or to just say hello. Click here to receive tips directly in your inbox.