Looking to get a boost in your day but don’t want the caffeine crash? Check out this technique yogis & musicians have been using for decades.
I am going to show you how to wake yourself up in 90 seconds with zero caffeine and no money.
The best part? It can be done anywhere in the world and is 100% natural.
In fact, it’s actually good for you.
This #lifehack has been used by yogis for ages & then independently discovered by musicians before they would play shows. As they geared up their breathing capacity for showtime, they realized they were also becoming more energized as the oxygen would literally wake them up.
You can read more about the research here but essentially by breathing in this way, you activate the parasympathetic nervous system which reverses stress in your body. This reversal can energize you instead of sapping you of energy.
So if you are ever feeling fatigued in the middle of the day and don’t want to inject yourself with a bunch of caffeine, try this life hack.
It’s called the, “Seven-Eight-Ten” technique and it has the power to up your day without the uppers.
How to get instant energy in 1 minute with no caffeine
1. With your eyes open, stare at something in front of you
One of the best parts about this exercise is it can be done anywhere. To start, find something that isn’t too distracting and is still.
Then, still your mind and begin to stare at it.
Your point of focus can be anything from a blank space on a wall to a tree in a park.
2. Slowly inhale your breath for a count of 7 seconds
After exhaling completely through your mouth, close your mouth, and then slowly inhale through your nose for a slow count of 7 seconds.
I recommend taking a few clearing breaths beforehand to warm up your lungs and clear your throat, but it’s up to you.
3. Hold your breath for a total of 8 seconds.
Once you reach the top of your inhalation at 7 seconds, you want to hold your breath for a count of 8 seconds.
Remember to keep staring at the spot you picked out in front of you…
4. Exhale your breath for a count of 10 seconds
After holding your breath, exhale with an open mouth while making a “whoosh” for a 10 second count.
You will instinctively want to exhale much faster than this, but try and make the exhalation a solid 10 seconds for maximum effect. And don’t be afraid of an audible “whoosh.”
5. Repeat exercise 3 times
You may begin to feel a slight burst of energy after your first time through, but make sure you take a few moments and repeat this 3 times to really feel it.
All together, it should take less than 2 minutes to do and you will be left with a natural, free, & sudden increase in energy to optimize your day.
Image courtesy of Unsplash.
Originally published at medium.com