Wellness Tip of the Week: One breath, one step outside

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month this May, Aaron Shaw, OTR/L, CHT, CSCS, healthspan coach and host of the podcast Healthspan Digest, will share 1 wellness tip each week that veterinary professionals can incorporate into their daily routines.

To kick off the first day of Mental Health Awareness Month, this week, Shaw is providing a 5-minute wellness tip for managing stress on busy days and shares the science behind its effectiveness.

Below is the video transcript:

Aaron Shaw, OTR/L, CHT, CSCS: Hey, everyone, Aaron Shaw here with your Wellness Tip of the Week. If today feels like one of those classic, overwhelming, super busy days and you feel stressed out and on edge—on super high alert, try this:

One breath, 1 step outside. That's it.

And here's the science: Just 5 minutes, just 5 minutes, being out in nature can lower the activity of your sympathetic nervous system. This is the fight-or-flight response, so get out in nature, regardless of the weather, just get out. Four or 5 minutes can lower the activity of this fight-or-flight response.

Even better, when you take a deep breath in and a slow breath out, just that single slow breath will activate your vagus nerve. This is really going to help your body regulate the hyperactivity in our body and mind.

So, the key here, long inhale in and an even slower exhale. Exhale as slow as you can, essentially. And just by the simple 1 or 2 minutes of doing that, you are going to quiet your nervous system down, decrease your stress. And no, it's not a full vacation, but mental health isn't an all-or-nothing situation. It's something that we have to deal with day in and day out.

So, take one for yourself today. You're worth it. Give it some practice.