When you work in the medical field, some measure of stress comes with the territory. After all, you’re sometimes dealing with life-and-death situations that require quick thinking and decisive action. The trick is not letting the stress affect your performance at work. One way to do that is to try a breathing exercise to stay calm—here are a few options for you to consider.

 

Belly Breathing

Belly breathing is one of the most basic breathing exercises, and it’s very easy to do wherever you might be. That makes it a perfect choice for a quick relaxation exercise at work.

Sit or lie flat in a comfortable position. Put one hand on your belly and the other on your chest, and take a deep breath in through your nose. Feel the way your body pushes your hand out. Now, breathe out through your mouth with pursed lips, taking note of the way your hand comes in toward your body. Repeat several times as necessary until you feel calm.

 

Roll Breathing

This technique helps you to focus on the rhythm of your breath and is easy to do almost anywhere. While you’re learning, though, it’s a good idea to perform the exercise lying down.

Place one hand on your belly and the other on your chest, in the same fashion as the belly breathing exercise. Take a breath in through your nose and exhale through your mouth, and repeat 8 to 10 times. Next, breathe in again and continue the breath into your upper chest, then exhale slowly through your mouth. Focus on the tension leaving your body as you repeat this exercise several times—you should be achieving a “rolling” motion with your belly and chest, hence the name.

 

4-7-8 Breathing

The 4-7-8 technique can be performed sitting or lying down. Place your hands in the same position as you did with the previous two exercises. Breathe in through your nose while counting silently to 4. At 4, hold your breath and count to 7. Breathe out through your mouth while counting to 8, attempting to get all the air out of your lungs by the time you’ve reached 8. Repeat several times as necessary.

 

Would you like even more tips for staying calm and productive at work? Visit Medical Professionals online to see how we can help.


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