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A lot of times, I will talk with farmers and ask them “What is the most valuable asset on your farm?” and hear a lot about tractors and machinery in reply. After they finish, I’ll admit that it was a trick question, because the MOST important asset on a farm is the farmer. Without the farmer, the farm can’t exist. People will look surprised when I say this, and say “I never thought about it that way.” Farmers tend to put themselves last. They don’t even treat themselves as well as they would treat their tractor! But the stress that builds up when you put yourself last is toxic. It can hurt your thinking, damage your relationships with family and friends, and make you sick.
You may be thinking “Seriously, I don’t have time for this self-care stuff” as you read this. I promise, the tools we’ll provide in this column will be simple and only take a few minutes. They can make a big difference and will be worth the time. So let’s take a deep breath and dive in.
Box Breathing
Today, I’d like to tell you about Box Breathing. This breathing can improve concentration, calm your nervous system, and relieve stress. It only takes 1-2 minutes. Here are the steps:
- Sit in a chair, feet on the floor, one hand on your chest and the other on your stomach
- Breathe in, counting to 4 slowly. Feel the air come into your lungs
- Hold your breath for 4 second and be still
- Slowly exhale through your mouth for 4 second
- Repeat this for a minute or two, until you feel more solid and calm
If you want to learn more, you can check out this video: WebMD – What is Box Breathing?
Breathe deep, and take care of yourself!
