Life can feel a bit much sometimes, can’t it? It’s common to feel stressed, a bit anxious, or find your mind wandering off when you need to concentrate. What if you could find some calm and focus in just two minutes? It sounds almost too simple. Yet, short, focused breathing, like the cognitive breathing technique we use at Lofi Fido, is becoming well-known for helping us feel better.
Find a Little Calm: How Two Minutes of Cognitive Breathing Can Help
We’ve put together a 2-minute cognitive breathing exercise video over on our Lofi Fido YouTube channel. It even features a playful Golden Retriever, which, I think, makes the whole thing a bit more pleasant.
Why Try Just Two Minutes of Breathing?
You might think, “Two minutes? What can that actually do?” Well, it seems it can do quite a lot. Here’s why starting with a quick 2-minute breathing break is a good idea:
It’s not a big ask.
Often, the main thing stopping us from trying something new, like mindfulness, is thinking we don’t have the time. A 2-minute breathing exercise feels doable. Even on the busiest days, most of us can find two minutes. This makes it easier to just start.
It helps you stick with it.
Because it’s easy to fit in, you’re more likely to do it regularly. A little bit of breathing practice each day seems to be more helpful than a long session you only manage now and then.
You can feel it working.
While big changes take time, you might notice a small shift in how you feel after just 120 seconds of focused breathing. Feeling a quick positive effect can encourage you to keep going.
It can lead to more.
For some people, these short sessions are a gentle start. Once you feel the good that a quick 2-minute reset can do, you might feel like trying longer practices.
The Surprising Benefits of a Simple 2-Minute Cognitive Breathing Exercise for Stress & Focus
Our Lofi Fido video guides you through a cognitive breathing technique. This isn’t just random breathing; it’s about gently using your mind and body to bring about some positive changes:
Eases Stress and Worry:
When you breathe in a controlled way, it helps your body’s natural relaxation response kick in. This can help lower stress and make you feel calmer. Even a 2-minute session can interrupt that feeling of being stressed.
Sharpens Your Focus:
Cognitive breathing asks for a bit of your attention. This can help train your ability to concentrate. If you find your mind scatters, a quick focus breathing technique can act like a little reset.
Helps With Emotions:
Slowing your breath can give you a moment between something happening and how you react. This gives you a chance to respond more thoughtfully.
Good for Neurodivergent Folk:
The steady rhythm of guided breathing, especially with something calming to look at, like our Golden Retriever, can be quite grounding. It can be helpful for anyone looking for a bit of sensory calm.
An Easy Start to Mindfulness:
If you’ve found the idea of meditation a bit off-putting, a 2-minute guided breathing exercise is a straightforward way to try mindfulness. It’s less daunting.
Try It: Lofi Fido’s 2-Minute Cognitive Breathing with a Golden Retriever
We made our Lofi Fido 2-minute video to be a simple, effective way to look after yourself. You can watch our friendly Golden Retriever having a lovely time in the woods while you follow easy on-screen prompts for your breathing.
If you like dogs, it’s a nice way to combine that with a useful self-care practice.
Getting the Most From Your Two Minute Breathing Exercise
Find a comfy spot.
Sit or lie down, whatever works for you.
Quiet, if possible.
If you can, turn off phone notifications.
Follow the guide.
Simply follow the animation to breathe in time.
Be kind to yourself.
If your mind wanders (it happens to us all!), just gently bring your attention back to your breath.
Taking just two minutes for a cognitive breathing exercise is a small thing that could make a positive difference to how you feel. It’s a simple tool you can use pretty much anywhere, anytime you need a moment of peace, want to feel less stressed, or just need to focus your thoughts.
Why not give it a go? See if two minutes can help your day feel a bit better. And if you find our content helpful, perhaps subscribe for more.
And if you find our content helpful, perhaps subscribe for more.