5 Breathing Exercises to Pair with Your Stress Relief Tools

Breathing is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to reduce stress. Pairing these exercises with your favorite stress relief tools can amplify their calming effects. Here’s how to get started:

1. Box Breathing with a Stress Ball

Inhale for 4 counts, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold again for 4. Squeeze a stress ball as you inhale and release as you exhale to sync your breath with your body.

2. 4-7-8 Breathing with Aromatherapy

Inhale through your nose for 4 seconds, hold for 7, and exhale for 8. Enhance this with an aromatherapy diffuser, using calming scents like lavender to deepen relaxation.

3. Alternate Nostril Breathing with Fidget Cube

Close your right nostril with your thumb, inhale through your left, then close your left nostril and exhale through your right. Repeat while fidgeting with a cube to keep your hands busy.

4. Diaphragmatic Breathing with a Zen Garden

Place one hand on your chest and the other on your abdomen. Inhale deeply so that only your abdomen rises. As you exhale, rake your mini Zen garden to ground yourself further.

5. Equal Breathing with a Liquid Motion Bubbler

Inhale for 5 seconds, and exhale for 5. Watch the bubbles in a liquid motion bubbler as you breathe to create a visually calming rhythm.

The Bottom Line

Combining these breathing exercises with stress relief tools can help you manage anxiety more effectively, providing a holistic approach to staying calm and focused throughout your day.

Share the Calm: Found these tips helpful? Share them with your friends and colleagues—because we could all use a little more breath and a little less stress!