Whenever I talk to students, I show them how to calm down by taking re-centering breaths. It’s really easy. When you notice that you’re stressing, you just STOP whatever you’re doing, close your eyes, and INHALE slowly and evenly through your nose. Then EXHALE... Slowly and evenly through your relaxed and open mouth. Inhale... S-L-O-W-L-Y and then exhale.... S-L-O-W-L-Y. After about 5 breaths, you will relax and have taken the edge off of your mood. Re-centering breathing also helps you think more clearly. (Always a good thing. Especially when you’re stressed!)
Up for a challenge? Next time you’re stressed, STOP and use re-centering breathing to help you calm down. Like other teens, you may quickly discover that you can change your life (and your relationships) when you’re not Too Stressed to Think. If you try it and it works, send me an email and tell me about it. You may get your story posted here, like this teen!
“I just wanted to go to sleep”
“I came home after school to help my mom clean the car, house, and help pack and load baggage because my mom, dad, and three younger siblings are going on a 16-hour drive for the holidays. My dad gets really stressed and crabby before a big trip, which makes the rest of us stressed too. He kept coming into my room and yelling at me about homework, why my room’s a mess, why the kitchen is a mess, and then he went back to asking about homework. I was constantly thinking about my projects and when, where, and how I was going to get all of this done and I just wanted to go to sleep (because that’s how I relieve stress). Then I remembered what you said about the whole breathing thing, and I did it and it really worked! While I was concentrating on my breathing I calmed down, finished my packing, everything… then I had to stop and do the breathing again! lol Then I cleaned the kitchen and got everything I needed to done. Thanks!”
Now it’s your turn:
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