Just Breathe

​Breathing is a natural process that occurs with or without any effort on our part.  We all breathe.  But, therein lays the problem, we are breathing unconsciously.  Our breath holds so much power and we have the ability to intentionally change how we breathe in order to affect changes in our body.  During stressful moments we tend to hold our breath causing it to become shallow. This causes our heart rate to speed up, further increasing the experience of stress and limiting our ability to utilize our best judgement. 
 
A complete breath is a four to six count; inhaling for a count of four and exhaling for a count of six.  It doesn’t have to be exact, the key is lengthening the exhale longer than the inhale.  When we inhale and exhale in controlled ways, we can alter our feelings in the moment and consequently our behavior.
 
Employee Assistance Program
LifeWorks EAP at (800) 234-2939
For more information on EAP visit: https://www.dbhnow.org/wellness/archives/07-2020
 
For additional County Wellness resources visit:
https://hr.sbcounty.gov/employee-benefits/wellness-resources/
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