How Breathing Exercises Makes You More Focused And Less Stressed At Work
by Urban Yoga Lab
February 23, 2022
Because of excessive stress, a person may feel burned out and eventually becomes less productive at work. What if we say you can avoid burning out with just a simple exercise? Yes. With a simple breathing exercise, you can stay focused and productive at work.
Proper Breathing Technique For Stress Relief
When people feel stressed, they take shorter breaths instead of taking long, deep breaths. As a result, they do not get enough oxygen supply for the brain to function properly. You must have felt short of breath and tired at the office when the work is too stressful.
In such situations, you can follow a deep breathing exercise to reduce stress and improve your brain’s function. Dr. Andrew Weil, an American sleep expert, has introduced the 4-7-8 breathing method that can calm your mind and relax your muscles. The method allows more oxygen to get into your lungs and replenish the brain.
Picture of Dr. Andrew Thomas Weil who advocates for alternative medicine including the 4-7-8 breathing technique
Here is how you should breathe:
- Relax your body. Breathe in air through your nose for a count of four. The air should fill your stomach, not only your chest.
- Hold your breath for 7 seconds.
- Next, let out the breath through your mouth slowly for a count of eight. To control the process, put your tongue behind your bottom teeth, and make a whooshing sound while blowing out your breath.
The breathing method allows maximum air to fill in your lungs. Your body and brain get better oxygen supplies. Thus, you will feel mentally and physically calm.
The best part about this exercise is that you can do it anytime and anywhere. It takes just a few moments, and you do not need any equipment. You should do the breathing exercise at least twice a day. But if you feel stressed and need to calm down, you can do the exercise anytime.
How Breathing Helps To Reduce Stress And Increase Focus
Breathing exercies benefits. Picture created by Eli DeFaria
Stress is a major issue at workplaces. Due to stress, employees may perform poorly, which has a direct effect on the productivity of a business. Reports have shown that regular breathing exercises and medication can help office workers manage their stress. Thus, they can manage their emotions better and remain calm.
Deep breathing not only reduces stress but also increases focus on work. As you take deep breaths, you supply more oxygen to your brain. Your brain becomes active, and you can give more effort to your work.
Conclusion
Deep breathing exercise takes only a minute yet can make you more active, productive, and creative at work. Therefore, you should develop the habit of deep breathing at work whenever you feel you need to relieve your stress or relax your body.
Find out more about Urban Yoga Lab upcoming events and make sure to register our workshop about: Events Calendar & Mental Health First Aid
Related Posts
The pandemic has drastically altered the traditional workplace, causing a […]
How to deal with negative self-talk and feel more confident? […]
With many organisations now operating a combination of physical and […]
