Can you relate?

The other day my 7-year-old son was having a tough day. He had a bit of a cold and was just feeling off. So when he had to write just 3 sentences for his 1st-grade writing assignment, it turned into a MAJOR event. There were tears, lots of snot, and a bit of hyperventilating.

My first thought was “Come on, it’s only THREE sentences!” but even though that didn’t seem like much to me, to him it wasn’t JUST three sentences. It was a goal that seemed insurmountable (he’s a bit of a perfectionist and doesn’t like to get things wrong. Can anyone relate??) and he couldn’t push past the thought of actually accomplishing this one “simple” task.

After trying to talk to him and help with ideas after quite a while, I changed tactics and just held him to me to do some deep breathing. At first, I had to say when to breathe in and out until it came more natural to him. We did this for several minutes until he was feeling more emotionally regulated and was able to be calm enough to finish his work (which took all of 3.5 minutes after an hour of arguing, ugh).

A Great Tip I Learned: Start Relieving Stress by Deep Breathing

When I am stressed or emotionally elevated, slow, deep breathing really helps to calm my racing heart and allows me to just take a moment before dealing with whatever is in front of me. It helps me feel more grounded and emotionally regulated. It has been a lifesaver for me this past year to help reduce stress for sure!

There are countless benefits to deep breathing. The more you practice it when things are going well, the better you can utilize it when your emotions are a bit out of wack. I love this article I found that talks a bit about the benefits of deep breathing.

“Though it may feel unnatural to breathe deeply, the practice comes with various benefits. Deep breaths are more efficient: they allow your body to fully exchange incoming oxygen with outgoing carbon dioxide. They have also been shown to slow the heartbeat, lower or stabilize blood pressure and lower stress.”

“To experience deep breathing, find a comfortable place to sit or lie down. Breathe slowly and deeply through your nose, causing your stomach to rise and expand. Exhale fully….. deep breathing is a good way to reduce stress and relax.”

Check out the full article here—> https://www.uchealth.org/today/understanding-breathing-and-the-importance-of-taking-a-deep-breath/

Do you practice deep breathing? Let me know how it helps you!

Best,

Miss Lindsey

Owner & Director at Joy of Dance