Challenge Tips

Anxiety often accompanies stress. When you feel anxious, there’s a good chance you have racing thoughts, a fast-beating heart, dry mouth, light-headedness, or a stomachache.

Instead of avoiding how you feel when you’re anxious and stressed, give yourself grace and accept it. Sit down and take a few moments to notice all the sensations and emotions you experience when you’re stressed. As you think about how you feel, do this breathing exercise to help you concentrate and calm yourself:

1. Take a deep breath in for 4 seconds
2. Hold the breath for 4 seconds
3. Breathe out for 4 seconds
4. Hold for 4 more seconds

Repeat this process 5 times. Do this exercise the next time you feel stressed or overwhelmed by difficult emotions. Reconnecting with your breath will help you feel more balanced in the present moment, and it’s a great way to anchor yourself.

Get more information on managing anxious moments, or learn how #healthynurse Ashley Johnson, MSN, AGPCNP-C, DNP(c), uses deep breathing to improve her job satisfaction.

How are you doing in the challenge? Share with us in our challenge update thread here, in our private Facebook group, or on Twitter, or Instagram (tag us with #healthynurse!). 

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