Breathe easily

Breathing from your diaphragm oxygenates your blood, which helps you relax almost instantly, says Robert Cooper, Ph.D., the San Francisco coauthor of The Power of 5 Rodale Press, 1996, a book of five second and five minute health tips. Shallow chest breathing, by contrast, can cause your heart to beat faster and your muscles to tense up, exacerbating feelings of stress. To breathe deeply, begin by putting your hand on your abdomen just below the navel. Inhale slowly through your nose and watch your hand move out as your belly expands. Hold the breath for a few seconds, then exhale slowly. Repeat several times.