Calm down with a double-inhale sigh
Two breaths in, one long breath out. In a Stanford study, five minutes a day of this lifted mood the most.
- Breathe in through your nose until your lungs feel comfortably full.
- Take a second, short sip of air through your nose to top them off.
- Breathe out slowly through your mouth until all the air is out. Make the exhale the long part.
- Repeat for about five minutes.
Tip: You may feel calmer after one or two sighs; the study used five minutes a day. Breathing isn't a treatment for anxiety, so talk to a doctor if it's getting in the way of life.
Try it now: Do three sighs right now and notice your shoulders as you breathe out.
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