The Power of Breath + July Writing Prompts

Written by Janine Defontaine

I can’t believe it’s nearly July!

Everyone I talk to tells me they feel the same.

How this year has flown by.

How quickly time is going.

Which is a great reminder to spend more time in the here and now and to stop filling it with things to do.

Because time is precious, and there’s no moment more important than now.

Really.

I spend a lot of time doing things and thinking about things.

I used to be the Queen of Chill; however, these days, my overactive ADHD brain struggles to shut off, and I am filled with so many ideas, thoughts, passions, interests, and ideas of things I can do.

And even as I recover from burnout, I have an increasing desire to do lots of things.

There are so many good books to read and shows to watch. So many jigsaw puzzles to complete. And so many nature walks to take Freya for a walk to.

Also, I am feeling drawn to create. My writing is coming back. And I am drawn to paint …

And then there’s my business. I have ideas for what I would like to do, and there is so much to learn. I also work with diverse clients from different lifestyles and industries. Work is never dull.

And then there’s daily life, travel, friends, my husband, family, food, exercise…

So many things.

And still, I take moments to stop, tune into my mind and body, smell the roses, and just be.

And if I get stuck, well, I have an energetic Doberman to remind me so 🙂

Are you busy for busy’s sake?

Are you living your life filling it full of things?

Or do you actively (or naturally) make space to rest and relax?

Be it relaxing over a cuppa, sitting in the backyard looking at the sky, savouring a hot shower as the water washes away the day, or just sitting still for 10 minutes with your eyes closed.

Space can be such a great addition to your days.

The power of breath

In Breath, James Nestor writes about one simple technique we can all practice that can change our lives;

“The perfect breath is this: Breathe in for about 5.5 seconds, then exhale for 5.5 seconds. That’s 5.5 breaths a minute for a total of about 5.5 litres of air.”
JAMES NESTOR

That’s it.

Breathe in through your nose for 5.5 seconds.

Breathe out through your nose for 5.5 seconds.

And do it again five times.

In and out.

Go on. Give it a go. It’s pretty darn simple and effective!

It’s also a great way to start slowing down your mind, body and nervous system.

And the best thing – you can do this anywhere.

As I continue to incorporate this breathing technique into my days, I have noticed the impact, especially after a period of hyperfocus where I’ve pumped out the work and may have forgotten to breathe. After a few minutes of 5.5 seconds of breathing in and out through the nose, I feel less foggy, a bit more centred and like I have come back to Earth.

My exciting news…

I’m excited to share that I’ve just qualified as a Health and Wellness Coach!

I’ve been studying in the background to update my coaching skills after becoming a certified Life Coaching way back in 2013. (That’s ten years ago… sheesh!). I’d parked the coaching for various reasons, but now I am ready to get back into it officially!

(I was reminded yesterday that I have been doing coaching organically for years as a manager, mentor, and unpaid coach…).

More on this coming soon…

(Okay, you can check out a sneak peek here).

Here are July’s writing prompts…

How is your overall well-being? What are three things you can do this month to nurture your well-being?
Sit down and auto-write. Don’t think. Just let the words flow.
Where is your fave place in the world and why? It could be a country, a place or your home…
Write a letter to your teenage self.