“Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths.” -Etty Hillesum

Yesterday’s post offered 8 tips to stay focused and present in a technology-driven world. We neglected to mention the most important and helpful suggestion: breathe. It’s such a simple way to create a state of inner calm and peace–known as shamatha in Buddhism.

When your day gets busy, step back and take a breath. When people get demanding, step back and take a breath. When you feel overwhelmed, stressed, worried, of fearful, step back and take a breath. Breathing deeply does amazing things for your mind and body. Aside from helping you relax, deep breathing:

  • Increases energy
  • Calms the nervous system
  • Relieves muscle tension
  • Improves blood circulation
  • Increases the oxygen to your brain

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Mindful breathing allows you to center, take inventory of your feelings, and act from a place of relative stillness–instead of acting on emotions, which you’ll likely regret later.

You don’t need to use a detailed breathing exercise to reap the benefits (though that wouldn’t hurt–a series of 10-15 works well). You just need a few deep, mindful breaths, and the willingness to let it wash over you.