Be Mindful

Meditation and awareness of one's surroundings is handy during times of stress. Even five minutes a day has been proven to lower heart rate, reduce high blood pressure and slow down one's breathing.

• Mindful Awareness Research Center - UCLA - Mindfulness is simply a way to become more aware of the present moment and your surroundings in a non-judgemental way.
• Example exercise: Sit in a relaxed position. You can close your eyes. Or, if you want you can keep your eyes open and focus on one location in the room. Then, take several slow, deep breaths. Pay attention to how the air feels when it enters your nose and lungs. Notice how your body is feeling. If your mind drifts to different thoughts and emotions that is perfectly okay. Just come back to paying attention to how your breathing feels. Take a few more deep breaths, and when you are ready, open your eyes.