Deep Breathing: A Simple Tool for Rest and Mental Reset

Breathing is more than just survival — it’s a powerful way to rest your nerves and reset your mind.

At its core, deep breathing is one of the simplest techniques you can use to reduce stress and support your mental well-being. It’s free, immediate, and available to you at any moment.

Why Deep Breathing Works

Modern life keeps our nervous systems on alert. From constant notifications to back-to-back meetings, the stress response often stays switched on longer than necessary. That’s where deep breathing steps in.

By intentionally slowing and deepening your breath, you stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system — the part responsible for calm, digestion, and repair. You lower cortisol levels, reduce tension in the body, and send your brain a clear message: you're safe.

Even just a few deep breaths can shift your state from reactive to grounded.

How to Start Deep Breathing

There’s no need to overcomplicate it. Here's a simple way to practice:

  1. Sit or lie down comfortably. Let your body relax.
  2. Inhale slowly through your nose, letting your belly rise first, then your chest.
  3. Exhale gently through your mouth, releasing all the air.
  4. Pause briefly, then repeat.

Try this for 5 to 10 breaths. If you feel more relaxed — even slightly — you’re doing it right.

Deep Breathing for Stress, Focus, and Energy

Depending on how you breathe, you can create different effects:

  • Slow, steady deep breaths support rest and lower anxiety.
  • Structured patterns like Box Breathing help restore focus and calm the mind.
  • Exercises like Diaphragmatic or Lateral Breathing can improve posture, digestion, and emotional balance.

Explore our guide on 5 breathing exercises to boost calm and focus to try them out for yourself.

Build a Daily Habit

Like any reset tool, breathing works best when it’s part of your routine. A few minutes in the morning, before meetings, or as you wind down in the evening can create a real shift over time.

Want to go deeper into the science and benefits of breathwork? Start with our article on Breathing.

Deep breathing is your built-in way to slow down, settle your nerves, and reconnect with the present moment. Use it often — your mind and body will thank you.

You can explore guided sessions for all of these techniques in the BreathInU app, adapted to your mood, energy level, or time of day.