As we all know, work can be super stressful.
But there’s one thing the elite U.S. Navy Seals have found to be more effective than any other to reduce stress.
Changing your breathing.
That’s why the Seals focus on breathing as their number one stress reducer.
They know that there’s a ‘cybernetic loop’ between your breath pattern and your thinking.
For example, when you breathe more slowly, you immediately feel calmer. When you breathe quickly you feel more tense.
When you are scared you often hold your breath.
In fact almost every change in your mood is accompanied by a change in your breathing patterns
The Navy Seals know this, so when under enormous stress they are all trained to breathe slowly.
Slow breath in, hold for a few seconds, slow breath out. And repeat at least 5 times.
Do this when you’re stressed at work, and it is almost impossible to not reduce your tension level. The connection between the brain’s state and breathing is that strong.
It’s one of the first things I teach executives and entrepreneurs who come to me feeling totally stressed out.
Truly, no matter how bad you feel, you are only ever a few breaths away from feeling calmer.
