If you are trying to reduce stress, you may be overthinking the problem. That’s the conclusion that I came to after talking with hundreds of women in our community.

Life is complicated. So, we assume that the solution to our problems is to think hard until we find sufficiently clever solutions. There is some truth to this. After all, if you are worried about money, putting together a financial plan will definitely help.

At the same time, there is such a thing as thinking too much about our problems. Sometimes what we actually need to feel more relaxed on a daily basis is less thought and better breathing.

Focus on Your Better Breathing to Reduce Stress

It may sound overly simplistic, but, there is a growing body of evidence that breathing exercises can activate your body’s own natural relaxation response. According to the National Institutes of Health, “Relaxation techniques may be an effective part of an overall treatment plan for anxiety, depression, and some types of pain.”

So, the next time that you start to feel yourself getting stressed, take a moment and try one of the 6 breathing exercises. There will be plenty of time to think through the causes of your stress later. But, first, you need to deal with your body’s own stress response.

Have you tried breathing exercises before as a part of your own strategy to combat stress? What was your experience? Please join the conversation.