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One of the biggest dangers facing modern humans is the idea of “burnout.” Burning out is a state of the body and mind where we feel we can’t do anything due to constant stress over long periods.
Getting burnt out can be a horrible feeling and is commonly associated with feelings of depression and anxiety. Those feelings also make it harder for us to breathe correctly, as our inhales and exhales become quicker.
Part of regaining composure and preventing ourselves from feeling the effects of long-term stress is using our breathing to our advantage. While it’s true that our breathing is affected by our stress, the reverse is similarly the case, allowing us to control our stress response by using effective breathing techniques.
In today's blog, we’ll be going through the effects of burnout and what method you can use today to give yourself some relief.
Read on!
Burning Out
When we say that someone is “burned out,” there’s often confusion as to what this means. Burning out can be challenging to describe, especially when and how it begins, but the symptoms are plain to observe once we become conscious of the idea.
Typically, when we feel ourselves burning out, we can feel unmotivated, stressed, and uninspired to complete work and social activities. To some, this may come across as lazy or unproductive, but the process of burning out can often come from doing too much work over a period of time.
The result of burning out can often be feelings of depression, requiring a more serious solution to solve adequately.
Breath Out Stress
One of the best ways to prevent burnout is to strive to reduce your stressful moments as they come, taking the time to manage your emotions incrementally and afford yourself time to deal with them adequately.
One of the best ways to achieve this is by utilizing the power of breathing. Breathing informs our behavior in much the same way our behavior informs our breathing. As a result, we can change how we feel through conscious breathing techniques.
When managing stress, it’s essential to take a break and work to consciously control our breathing to prevent poor habits from forming. Below is an excellent example of a breathing exercise for this purpose:
4-7-8
The 478 technique is fantastic at giving you the chance to relax through conscious breathing. This technique slows down the breathing process, forcing the body to settle as well.
- Breathe through your nose while counting to four, keeping your tongue at the top of your mouth.
- Hold that breath for seven seconds.
- Exhale through your mouth for a count of eight seconds.
This technique is commonly taught in yoga and is incredibly useful in helping your body relax. It’s also an extremely straightforward technique that can be hugely beneficial from any location.
For more information regarding how to manage your breathing for a more effective lifestyle, visit our other blogs here at The Exhale to get the latest tips and tricks. For free guided breathing exercises that you can take anywhere, try out the Breathwrk app here.
And remember: Breathe Better, Live Better.
Ciao!
