What do you do when you feel overwhelmed?

My answer today varies from three years ago, and will probably be different from three years from now.

Three years ago, I would push through my to do list to get past the feelings of overwhelm. I’d work longer hours, not take days off, determined to “get ahead.”

Today, I’m choosing to press pause for a moment and practice a mindfulness tool.

When I’m overwhelmed, I can get pulled in to a place of fear, doubt, frustration, and other challenging emotions that make it even more difficult to focus. Using a mindfulness exercise can help me to take a pause.

Using the breath as an anchor can help to focus the mind.

Today’s mindful minute is a simple tool to count the breath.

Try it, right now. Whatever you’re doing, take one minute to do this exercise.

Remember that you can always download the slide and save it to your phone (when we’re stressed, we will not naturally remember to be mindful!).

Now that you have practiced the tool . . .

What do you notice?

Try to answer without judgement. Whatever you notice is simply what you noticed; it’s not right, wrong, or indifferent.

Can you make a reminder to yourself to do this once a day this week??

For more support in creating a mindfulness habit, text MINDFUL to +1-480-531-9810 for a free, daily mindful minute prompt!

Before you go . . . Yoga Warrior update!

I’m currently in the quarterfinals! Thank you for support in getting me this far! The end is in sight: this Thursday at 7pm PST, I have an opportunity to advance to the semifinals. I need your help to get there.

Here’s how you can help

• vote for me with a Facebook account: you can cast a FREE vote daily. The contest ends at the end of April, with a cutoff each Thursday!

• additional votes can be donated with 25% of the proceeds going to The Veterans Yoga Project, a 501c nonprofit (today votes are buy one, get one free through 7pm!)

• share my voting link with your friends, family, or anyone who may be willing to help!

NEW! You can now sign up for a daily text from me reminding you to vote! Text WARRIOR to +1-480-531-9810.

You can vote every 24 hours, so set an alarm or reminder to optimize your voting potential!

Please consider sharing my voting link with your friends, family, and anyone who may be willing to vote for me.

I need to be in first place on Thursday at 7pm PST to advance to the semifinals!

Thank you for all of your support in getting this far. Over 25,000 people started this competition and now 256 remain!