Just One Breath

Instructions for "Just One Breath":
​When you wake up each morning this week, set an intention (not an alarm) to:

1. At regular intervals (once per hour would be great!), bring your attention to your breath for one slow, relaxing breath.
2. ​Be attentive of the breath as it enters and leaves the body; of the rise and fall of the chest; of any sensations in the nostrils as the breath moves though them.
3. Take a moment to feel the benefit of this breath.
4. Move on with your day.

The idea behind this exercise is to train your body to relax regularly. By setting an intention in the mornings, you are telling your body to remind itself to relax from time to time. While it's great to set a reminder on your phone, it's also useful to engage and strengthen your own memory.
​You can "set an intention" by simply telling yourself that you are going to do something, for example  - "Today I will remember to stop and take a mindful breath every hour, today I will remember to take a mindful breath every hour....(repeat several times with concentration and gentle determination).
​Taking one mindful breath can help to stabilise and ground you, allowing you to feel more in control.

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"Spending too much time planning, problem-solving, daydreaming, or thinking negative or random thoughts can be draining. It can also make you more likely to experience stress, anxiety and symptoms of depression. Practicing mindfulness exercises, on the other hand, can help you direct your attention away from this kind of thinking and engage with the world around you." - Mayo Clinic Staff

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