If you want to stay relaxed when the holiday craziness begins then try this breathing exercise. Find a quiet place to sit comfortably where you won't be interrupted for at least five minutes. If you want to set the mood light a candle or arrange the lighting so it is relaxing. Wear loose clothing, you are going to be breathing in and out and you don't want your diaphragm to be constricted. If it takes a few minutes to quiet your thoughts that's okay. Just take five minutes for yourself and try to block out everything else. You know it will all be waiting for you anyway. Take some deep breaths and just think about the breaths going in and out. The slower your breaths are the greater the benefits will be. Your heart beat will slow down and the stress hormone levels will drop. You might want to start out with just a minute or so of deep breathing and then increase by a few minutes each day. You might not have time to do this for twenty minutes but if you do it early morning and before bedtime you will feel more centered for your day and sleep better at night.
Deep breathing can also improve memory through increasing the capacity to focus, pay attention, and be more self aware. When all the bustle that is around us, taking care of ourselves is important. Paying attention to our breathing is such a small thing but can go a long way to helping us cope with all the stress that the holidays can bring. Be merry!
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