I’m going to share a little secret of mine.This secret has helped me de-stress, refocus, and even reinvigorate my brain.
And the great thing is you can do it anytime, anywhere, and often.
No one will even know.
Ready?
It’s breathing.
You’re probably thinking well duh Craig. We all need to breathe. Not exactly an earth-shattering secret.
Here’s the thing – the secret is how you breathe. It’s called 4-7-8 breathing, also known as “relaxing breath”.
It’s a great way to re-group, especially in the moment of an unexpected event (such as your Grandkid taking a sharpie to your monitor) that made your blood pressure skyrocket.
This breathing pattern can also reduce anxiety and is known to help people get to sleep.
For whatever reason, it also serves as a pattern disruptor and can help you get back on track with your tasks if you’re having trouble focusing.
You may have even seen Dr. Andrew Weil teach the 4-7-8 breathing technique, which he believes can reduce anxiety, help you get to sleep, manage cravings, and control or reduce anger. Here’s a re-cap of this technique:
Before starting the breathing pattern, get into a comfortable sitting position and place the tip of your tongue on the tissue right behind your top front teeth.
To use the 4-7-8 technique, focus on the following breathing pattern:
- Empty your lungs of air.
- Breathe in quietly through your nose for 4 seconds.
- Exhale forcefully through your mouth, pursing your lips and making a “whoosh” sound for 8 seconds.
- Rinse and repeat up to 4 times.
In fact, my specialty and greatest satisfaction is putting an anxiety-free financial plan in retirement for my clients so they can relax and focus on the important stuff in life in today’s world, culture, economy, and financial markets.
Go here now to schedule your own “4-7-8 financial session” to start breathing easier: book a chat with Craig here.