Has ‘Christmas Craziness’ moved in to your house? It has settled in at our home even though our kids are college-age. It’s hard to imagine that anyone escapes the chaos of this season, but even when Christmas isn’t days away, taking a ‘me’ moment always has benefits.

When the craziness of a busy day is upon me, I have learned to steal a little moment of ‘me’ time. No, I’m not talking about finding enough time to have a massage or get a pedicure (which are both really nice, though!). I mean stealing small little moments, seconds in my day, to pause my thinking and breathe… really breathe.

Taking time to breathe deeply and consciously has many health benefits. It helps increase oxygen in your system, relieve stress, assists with lymphatic system drainage and can aid with digestion.

So while it may only be when you are sitting in traffic, the carpool pick-up line or waiting for your turn to pay at Target that you get a chance to try this exercise, it counts as ‘me time’ in my book. Here’s how it works:

Pause and think of something you are grateful for. Then do a series of three of these slow count breaths:

1- slowly breathe in for the count of 5

2- hold for a count of 3

3- then slowly breathe out for a count of 5.

Fill your lungs as full as you can and empty them as much as possible with each breath. While you breathe, focus on gratitude and soak up the stillness of the moment.

In less than a minute’s time you will have given your body healthy boost and given your inner self a moment of peace. Me? I give thanks to God in that moment, for there is always something to be thankful for, no matter how small it may seem to be.

Wishing you a day filled with some ‘me’ time and moments of peace.