Deep Breathing Benefits You in Several Ways

During a long day at work or at home or anywhere else, sometimes it's easy to forget about breathing. This can result in shallow breathing, which can cause tiredness, headaches, irritability and difficulty concentrating. Breathing isn't something that takes a lot of planning, so it isn't usually thought about until nasal congestion and coughing come into the picture. However, without inhaling enough oxygen, we aren't doing ourselves any favors. The oxygen that is inhaled is delivered to cells and organs through the bloodstream. When the amount of oxygen is low, it can lead to sluggish performance of many of them. Perhaps the only thing noticed is a general tiredness, but tiredness can affect productivity and thought.

Most breathing exercises are simple and can be done almost anywhere. There are some that require more concentration and focusing on how to use chest and abdominal muscles to inhale and exhale, but a nice deep breath or two will often suffice. You can lie down and think about the mechanics of expanding your lungs later.

When you find yourself in the same office chair for hours on end, maybe slouching a little bit and feeling weary, sit up straight and take a deep breath. There's no need to do it loudly, especially if you work in an office where you can hear a pin drop on the carpet. Slowly exhale through your mouth, which might sound like a sigh if anyone is listening. A single deep breath is not guaranteed to give an instant burst of energy, but it will send necessary oxygen to the brain, encouraging clear thinking and alertness.

Stretching is another way to perk yourself up. Simply turning your head from side to side or rotating it may be enough to stimulate your brain, or stretching your arms over your head. Stretching and getting up and walking around are good for circulation and respiration. It sometimes seems like just taking a short walk makes the things that were so confusing a minute ago perfectly clear.

Stressful situations can cause rapid, shallow breathing, creating a vicious cycle because it compounds the feeling of stress. Pausing to take a few deep breaths before tackling the job or making the decision can help put everything into perspective.

When deep breathing becomes a habit, it will be easy to notice the occasional shallow breathing. It should take almost no effort to go back to the healthy way to breathe.