2/365 - Use Breath Awareness to Stay Present

A simple tactic for smooth flow is BREATHING! Begin paying attention to how you breathe. How many breaths per minute do you take? Does your stomach move when you inhale? How about your chest? Do you hold your breath unconsciously when focusing hard on a task? Learning to free up your flow of energy begins with attention and the easiest way to do this is through the breath. If you are consciously inhaling and exhaling, you are present in your body.

BOX BREATHING is an effective tool for breath awareness. Inhale to the count of 4 seconds; hold breath 4 seconds; exhale 4 seconds; hold 4 seconds; and Repeat. 

It’s difficult to change a habit if you don’t have a good deal of awareness around your current state. But how do you have awareness if you don’t remember to notice it? It’s a conundrum for sure. Setting a reminder on my phone is an action that worked for me. Twice a day, my phone reminds me to “Breathe.” Eventually I got in the habit of noticing my inner state more frequently throughout the day. 

Another tactic is to attach your breath awareness to something else that occurs regularly in your day. For example, I used my drive to work; every time I came to a traffic light, I’d slow my breathing down. Aiming for 6 breaths per minute, I’d take a long inhale to my gut, followed by a longer exhale and a pause. This practice really helped me remember the importance of my breathing and how I can use breath to relax. 

It’s next to impossible to be worrying about the future or lost in your head while you are consciously thinking about each breath! Your practice need only be a minute at a time and eventually you’ll be present frequently throughout your day.