Supporting Our Community's Well-Being

At this time of year, many in our community are balancing a great deal. Whether you are navigating the high energy of raising a young family or managing the challenges that come with later life or life in general, the pressure to ‘keep going’ can be constant.

When we are always busy, we can get stressed or anxious. This means our bodies switch from being calm to caught in a pace that is simply too much.

This may sound too easy, but taking just a few minutes to pause helps to reset this internal tension. By changing the rhythm of your breath, you can signal to your nervous system it is time to rest and recover.

A Simple Way to Reset

If you have sixty seconds try this 4 to 6 technique. It is a quiet, effective way to help your body find its natural balance.

Inhale gently through your nose for a count of 4.

Pause for a brief moment.

Exhale slowly and steadily for a count of 6.

Repeat until you feel calmer.

This can be done with a child to help regulate big feelings, in stressful situations like meetings at work, or helping an elderly loved one negotiate difficult life changes.

By making the exhale longer than the inhale, you are physically switching off the ‘stress’ signal in the brain. It is a tool you can use anywhere – on the school run, in the garden, or simply sitting with a cup of tea. Anywhere, at any time, for anybody.

Wishing you a lovely calm rest of your week.