The Power of “Just Three Breaths”

What if the secret to greater calm wasn't another hour-long meditation, but just three intentional breaths?

The way we transition between activities shapes our entire day. Most of us jump from task to task with no buffer—from work call to parenting, from exercise to emails, from creating to consuming.

Try this instead: before moving to the next thing, pause. Close your eyes. Take three deep breaths.

😮‍💨 Breath one: Acknowledge and close what you just finished.
😮‍💨 Breath two: Check in with how you're feeling right now.
😮‍💨 Breath three: Set an intention for what comes next.

This micro-moment of mindfulness—just 20 seconds—creates a mental reset that changes everything downstream.

I'm learning this myself after years of overworking, over-producing, and burning out repeatedly. I used to think of rest as something to earn, something that happens after all the work is done (which it never is).

But what if productivity is more like a marathon than a sprint? What if those small moments of rest throughout your day are what sustain you for the long run?

Rest isn't indulgence—it's strategy. Your well-rested self can handle whatever comes next far better than your depleted self who "powers through."

Start simple: three deep breaths. Long inhale through your nose, filling your lungs completely. Longer exhale through your mouth, letting everything go. Repeat twice more.

This bare minimum practice might be the beginning of a profound shift in how you move through your day.

What transition could you transform with three breaths today?