Take 5 minutes to breathe

Taking just five minutes out of your day to focus on your breathing can help you check in with yourself and how you're feeling. By observing your breath, you can become aware of any tension or relaxation in your body. You can then start taking deep breaths, counting to four on your in-breath and making your out-breath longer and slower. Focusing on your breathing can help dissolve tension and tightness, allowing your body to relax. After a few minutes, you can return to a normal breath and check in with yourself again before continuing with your day. You have clicked the link, you have said yes and decided to take five minutes out of your day. Five minutes to check in with yourself, to check in with your breathing. If you haven't already, find a quiet spot. You may be sitting in a chair, upon the earth, or laying down. You need to become aware of how you breathe. Focus on that breath going in and out. Become aware of your breath, whether it is shallow, rapid, or do you take deep breaths already, or a little slower. There is no need to change your breathing just yet. Just observe your breath. By taking these five minutes out, focusing on your breathing, you can start to focus on how you are feeling. How does your body feel? Are you tense? Are you relaxed? The more we stop and check in with ourselves, become aware of how we are feeling, we then have the capacity to change that. You can start to take some nice deep breaths in and out. If you can, count to four on your in-breath, expanding your lungs, extending your belly. And as you breathe out, allow your out-breath to be longer and slower than your in-breath. Your belly lowers, your lungs deflate. Continue taking nice deep breaths in and out. Even counting to four on your in-breath. And if you can, count to six or eight on your out-breath, to ensure that that is longer and slower. If you stay focused on your breathing, counting to a rhythm of four, and then eight, with every inhale and exhale. You may even start to feel the tension and tightness dissolve. Your body start to relax, just by focusing on your breathing for a few minutes. You return to a normal breath. Once again, checking in with yourself to see how you feel. And when you're ready, opening your eyes, coming back to the world around you, and carrying on with your day.