Try Just Breathing

For as long as I can remember I have struggled with test anxiety. Now whenever I am preparing for a test or find myself in a state of stress paralysis, I turn my attention to my breath. I’ll take a step back from whatever I am doing and begin counting my breaths in patterns of fours; inhale for four counts, pause for four counts, exhale for four counts and finally pause for four. This cycle of breathing only takes a few seconds, but allows me to detach from the stresses I am feeling and focus on the assignment in front of me.

Molly Coleman