The Quickest Way to Stop Stress
Taking a Few Deep Breaths Is the Simplest Thing You Can Do to Reduce Stress
Stress Intervention
While our fight or flight response can threaten to hijack our day, interventions such as deep breathing exercises and other self-care practices can give you a moment to pause, regulate your heart rate, and calm down.
Deep breathing stimulates the vagus nerve, which "is responsible for certain sensory activities and motor information for movement within the body," according to Medical News Today. "Essentially, it is part of a circuit that links the neck, heart, lungs, and the abdomen to the brain." The vagus nerve sends signals to your brain and body to remind you you're not in imminent danger so you can tackle your day.
While there are a variety of breathing exercises out there, you don't need anything to get started — just yourself. Take a few minutes right now and give it a try.
