A quick exercise to clear your mind

Cari Nazeer
Forge
Published in
Sent as a

Newsletter

1 min readMay 10, 2020

🖐 Today’s tip: To decompress, breathe with five fingers.

Over on our sister publication Elemental, the psychiatrist Jud Brewer recently explained a de-stressing technique called five-finger breathing. Here’s how to do it:

  • Touch your index finger on one hand to the outside of your pinky on the other hand.
  • As you inhale, move your index finger up your pinky. Bring it back down the other side on the exhale.
  • Repeat for the other four fingers, then switch hands.

Getting through it requires a surprising amount of awareness: You’re watching and feeling your finger move, and focusing on your hands and your breath at the same time. It’s a mindfulness exercise that doesn’t give you any other choice but to be fully present.

📚 More from Forge on staying present:

How the Japanese Concept of Ichigo Ichie Can Tune You in to Your Life
Read more >>

How to Practice Gratitude While Cooking, Doing Laundry, and Commuting
Read more >>

If You Can’t Meditate, Bake Bread
Read more >>

Forward this email to a friend and improve their morning. ☀️ Subscribe to The Forge Daily Tip here.

You’re subscribed to receive emails from Forge. You can adjust your settings via the link at the bottom of this email.

--

--

Forge
Forge

Published in Forge

A former publication from Medium on personal development. Currently inactive and not taking submissions.

Cari Nazeer
Cari Nazeer

Written by Cari Nazeer

Former lead editor, Forge @ Medium

No responses yet