To Turn Off Anxiety, Use Breath Timers

Four powerful benefits of one of YouTube’s greatest hidden treasures

Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash

Recently, I stumbled on a tool that helped control my anxiety for the first time in my life.

The “how” is nothing new. Science is clear: to reduce anxiety, slow your breathing.

The problem, if you’re like me, is doing it.

Let’s be honest: when your mind is pacing frantically and your heart is beating a mile a minute, sitting and breathing is the last thing you want to do. In fact, your entire physiology fights against it.

Enter: Breath timers

This ridiculously simple tool works exactly the way it sounds. Inhale when you hear the sound effect, hold when you hear the next one, then exhale when you hear it again. Rinse and repeat.

Here are YouTube links to a few of my favorites:

12–14 (inhale for 12 seconds, exhale for 14)

4–7–8 (inhale for four seconds, hold for seven, exhale for eight)

Box breathing (inhale for four seconds, hold for four, exhale for four, hold for four)

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