Is the Way You Breathe Wearing You Out? (Small Habits, Big Difference #7)

Small Habits…Big Difference! Habit #7

Take a breath right now. Where did it go?

Did your chest and shoulders rise? Or did your belly push out?

Most of us never think about it. We've been breathing our whole lives without a single lesson! 😂

I've been reading The Eternal Norse by Astrid and Erik Halvorsen, and I'm sharing some of the everyday habits that might be worth changing as we get older.

Last time, we talked about eating something small within an hour of waking.

Well…here's Habit #7.

Breathing shallowly all day may be working against you!

Most people use only the top part of their lungs when they breathe.

Short little breaths. Up in the chest. All day long.

According to the book, that keeps the body in a low level of stress all day.

It also slows down the system that clears waste from the body.

And over time, shallow breathing causes tiredness, brain fog, and poor sleep.

Have you ever caught yourself holding your breath while you sat in traffic, paid the bills, or watched the evening news? Most of us have, and we never even noticed.

Tired in the afternoon. Foggy. Tossing and turning at night. We blame our age. The book says the way we breathe may be part of it.

Here's the habit.

Several times during the day, take five slow, deep breaths into your belly.

Here's an easy way to try it:

• Sit or stand up tall and let your shoulders relax.
• Put one hand on your belly.
• Breathe in slowly through your nose and feel your belly push your hand out.
• Breathe out slowly and let your belly fall.
• Do that five times.

Just two minutes of deep breathing, three times a day, changes how your body feels.

The easiest way to remember is to tie it to something you already do. Take your five breaths with your morning coffee, after lunch, and before bed. Or do them when you get up to move each hour, like we talked about in Habit #5.

A word of caution. If you have a lung or heart condition, or you start to feel dizzy, go slowly and follow your doctor's advice.

Anybody who has watered a crop knows the difference between a sprinkle and a soak.

A light sprinkle every day only wets the top inch of ground. The roots stay up near the surface, and the plants struggle the minute it turns hot.

A slow, deep watering soaks down to where the roots can reach it. The whole field does better for it.

Breathing is a lot like that. Short breaths in the top of your lungs are the sprinkle. Slow breaths down into your belly are the soak.

Small habits…big difference!

This might be the easiest habit in the whole series.

No equipment. No special food. Nothing to buy. You can do it sitting in your favorite chair, waiting at a stoplight, or standing in line at the store.

At my age, I'm not chasing miracles. I just want to stay active, stay healthy, enjoy my family, spend time with my grandson, and keep learning new things for as long as the good Lord allows.

That's one reason I've become interested in health and wellness and why I'm involved with Zilara, a company offering wellness products in forms such as liquids, powders, tinctures, and teas.

I'm not looking for overnight transformations.

I'm interested in learning about practical ways to support our health as we get older…and sharing what I discover.

If you're curious about Zilara, you can explore it through a free 72-hour tour:

https://zilaratour.com/bill

No pressure. Just take a look and decide for yourself. (I earn a commission if you join through my link; your price doesn't change.)

Three times tomorrow, stop for two minutes.

Hand on your belly. Five slow, deep breaths.

Then do it again the next day.

One little change.

One little habit.

And who knows? Maybe you'll sleep a little better tonight!

Now, I have a question for you…

👉 When you take a breath, where does it go: your CHEST or your BELLY?

Leave a comment. I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time, keep learning, keep taking care of yourself, and…

Just keep moving forward!

Bill Feaver

Small Habits…Big Difference! A series about simple changes that may help us live healthier, more active lives as we age.