Need to calm down? You are not alone — many people are experiencing higher levels of stress and anxiety right now because of the coronavirus pandemic. Courtesy of the Cleveland Clinic, here’s a way to get a hold of yourself in one minute flat:
- Place one hand on your upper chest and another just below your rib cage.
- Breathe in slowly through your nose. Keep your hands still.
- Exhale through your mouth, allowing your belly to “deflate” inward again.
- Repeat three more times.
As the clinic explains, “the quality and rhythm of your breath affect your nervous system … A full, deep breath makes your lungs and chest send a signal to your brain, and you feel calmer.”