Schedule time to Breathe


I've discovered that when I go to work I get sucked into a black hole. In that place my outside live doesn't exist. All I can think of is work-related stuff. Then the end of the day comes and I'm spat out dazed and drained.

In fact, one of the reasons Taiwan life is so addictive, is that I have the luxury of choosing to work part-time if I wish, and I have exercised that right for many of the 18 years I've lived here. I simply get too stressed and triggered by working full time. 

However, since having children, working part-time simply isn't practical. We have financial goals that need to be met. I need the regular salary, and yes, being a Grade 5 International Baccalaureate Homeroom Teacher is stressful, but I also recognise that as far as teaching jobs go, mine isn't that bad. 

I really think the stress is mostly my problem. I need to learn how to handle and react to the stress better if I'm going to stay out of pain. To reduce the frequency and severity of my stress reactions. It's that mind body connection that messes me up. I need to change my workstyle. 

After my health crisis, I asked some friends if they had any ideas about how to not manifest stress and tension in the muscles, but it seems that lowering my stress at work is the best place to start. 

Of course, I've heard about how breathing can help lower stress. I've even dabbled with breathing techniques as a performer and pranyama as a yogi and life coach, but I'd never felt much of a noticeable impact from them. However, the pain I suffered on Dec 31st 2023 was enough for me to look for answers and apparently breathing is one of them. So I guess I'm going to do it even if I don't feel any immediate benefits. 

Looking at my workstyle, I have to admit that I have really no idea of how my heart's beating or how I'm breathing at all work, being completely oblivious to myself for the major portion of the day. Going to work is like going to sleep! 

So let's just assume (because of the consequences I suffered) that I am having stress reactions at work and I'm unaware of them or how serious they are. I just don't recognise them. How can I remember to breathe effectively enough to lower my stress? How do I remember to do anything at work? 

1. Write it down.
2. Put reminders where I can trip over them. 
3. Schedule it. 
(If it's not scheduled it won't get done) 

So, it's been done. There's a poster on my teaching wall:

Seeing as my breaks when I'm not teaching are at different times every day, scheduling is an alarm twice a day at different times is a bit of a nuisance, so I decided on a "trigger for action" instead.  My trigger for breathing and body scanning is whenever I'm alone in the classroom and quiet time after lunch. 

I have whole list of different breathing techniques earmarked on YouTube such as this short one: 4-7-8 Technique

And this longer one: Breathwork

And a body scan at lunch time like this one: Body Scan 1

And this one Body Scan 2

This Ted Talk was also inspiring "Breathe". So, I'm working on building daily breathing techniques into my worklife. I'm motivated by the need to not ever be in that much pain again, so let's see if it helps. Worth a try innit? 😁

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