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What's available to you 24/7, anytime, anyplace?  Your breath.  

Why is that important, you ask? Well, we’re about to embark on one of the most stressful times of the year – the winter holidays. Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanza, New Year’s – no matter which combination of holidays you observe, they are bound to cause stress. Shopping for gifts, party planning, holiday baking, and family gatherings are all bound to have you feeling overwhelmed and stressed. But there is good news (and no, I am not about to advocate an extra glass of egg nog or piece of pie). By simply remembering to breathe, however, you can reduce your stress level, decrease your frustration or anxiety, and increase your ability to experience (and spread) holiday cheer.

Here’s how. The moment you notice yourself feeling stressed, overwhelmed or just plain tired, stop yourself. It doesn’t matter if you’re home alone or in a crowded shopping mall on Black Friday. 

Be aware of your feelings and take a breath. 

Begin by inhale deeply through your nose, taking the time to feel the breath across the back of your throat. Hold it for a second. When you think you can breathe in no more, exhale through your nose. Repeat as often as necessary to slow your heart rate down, decrease the tension in your head, neck, and shoulders, and reduce your feelings of anxiety.  Ahh, feel better yet? (C’mon, I know you are practicing while reading this blog!)

Yogis have been doing breath work for centuries, and it's about time you took advantage of this simple technique to feeling great, too.  Remember, you can do this anytime, anywhere, and nobody need be the wiser but you.  Breath work has been shown to improve our concentration, our mood, and maybe even our memory.  So perhaps you will remember all those gifts you have to buy this year!

Make a resolution for yourself this holiday season - stop and take a breath. I guarantee you will feel better, and that in itself is a reason to celebrate.

Dr. Elizabeth Ricanati is the mother of three children and founding medical director of The Cleveland Clinic's LifeStyle 180 program.  She is a regular columnist for ShareWIK.com 

More Dr. Elizabeth Ricanati articles, click here. 

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