How To Breathe Yourself Calm This Festive Season
Is the thought of Christmas cheer turning into festive fear?
If so, please know that you are not alone. The festive season is considered by many to be the most stressful time of year. Whether you are up to your eyes in house guests needing food and attention, or whether you’re wishing you had more company over this period, it’s important to try and find a few minutes now and again to check in with yourself and access some inner calm to regulate your emotions.
Your breath truly is your greatest immediate aid to alleviate stress so try these simple breathing exercises for a calmer Christmas.
Box Breathing
The box breath is a fantastic practice when you need to release any Christmas anxiety or stress, inject some positivity into your mindset, or when you need an energy hit and to realign your focus.
To practice this breath, sit comfortably, place one hand on your stomach and one hand on your heart, and close your eyes. Then, follow the below:
- Inhale through the nose for four seconds.
- Hold your breath for four seconds.
- Exhale through your nose for four seconds.
- Hold your breath for four seconds.
Try repeating this sequence four times, which is one minute of controlled breath. From there, feel free to work your way up to longer sessions of 5 minutes or 10 minutes. I recommend staying under the 20-minute mark to avoid any dizziness or lightheadedness.
Breathwork & Affirmation Technique
This breathwork practice combines control of the breath and a change for the mindset using positive affirmations. Before you begin, think of an affirmation that feels good for you, maybe ‘I’m amazing, I can do this’, or ‘I’m enough as I am’.
To practice this breath, sit comfortably, place one hand on your stomach and one hand on your heart, and close your eyes. Then, follow the below:
- Breathe slowly in through the nose and out through the nose. When you’re ready, increase the number of seconds for each inhale and exhale, perhaps 4 seconds for each.
- Again, when you’re ready, increase the number of seconds for each inhale and exhale, perhaps 6 seconds for each.
- Take a full breath in and hold for 10 seconds, or as long as you are able, and then release with a big exhale.
- With your eyes still closed, rub your hands together. As you do, repeat your affirmation to yourself. Bring it into your thoughts and breathe it in, holding it in your mind.
- Bring your hands to your heart and feel your affirmation there.
- Breathe in for 4 seconds through the nose, and then, with pursed lips, blow all the way out for 8 seconds. Repeat until you feel a sense of calm.
- Whenever you're ready, open your eyes and bring your awareness back to the present moment.
Remember, most things aren't as big of a deal as our brains make them out to be. Let go of needing things to be perfect this Christmas and give yourself permission to just focus on having fun and spending time with those you love.
I am here for you, always. If you would like to find out more about other breathing techniques to bring inner calm, I encourage you to join my Love Your Life community, or reach out to me at info@nicolalaye.com or on Instagram @nicola_laye
I wish you a peaceful and happy Christmas!