3 Stress-Busting Relaxation Exercises You Can Do Anywhere (60-Second Video)

Try the "4-7-8" method, a tense-and-release exercise or simply practicing gratitude.

learn more about Hayden Field

By Hayden Field

  • Dr. Andrew Weil, author of Breathing: The Master Key to Self-Healing, developed a method called the 4-7-8 exercise to boost oxygen and slow down the heart rate. Here's how it works: With your lips closed, breathe in through your nose for four seconds, hold your breath for seven seconds and, with a "whooshing exhale," release the air over a period of eight seconds.
  • At your desk, try a 10- to 15-minute tense-and-release exercise. Systematically tense up different parts of your body, moving up from your toes all the way to your neck and face. Hold each part for a few seconds, then release. The exercise aims help you become more aware of your tension, because if it's constant, many people get to the point where they don't notice it anymore.
  • One of the simplest stress-busters is thinking about what you're thankful for. Research suggests this can increase optimism and the quality of your sleep, plus decrease diastolic blood pressure. Try thinking up -- or writing down -- five things you're grateful for just after waking up or before going to sleep.

For more tips, check out Entrepreneur's article on relaxation hacks.

Hayden Field

Entrepreneur Staff

Associate Editor

Hayden Field is an associate editor at Entrepreneur. She covers technology, business and science. Her work has also appeared in Fortune Magazine, Mashable, Refinery29 and others. 

Related Topics

More from Entrepreneur Exclusives

3 Simple Ways to Boost E-Commerce Sales

Why Your First 1,000 Customers Are Your Most Important

How to Grow Your Business By Finding New Customers

3 Stress-Busting Relaxation Exercises You Can Do Anywhere (60-Second Video)

Editor's Pick

Everyone Wants to Get Close to Their Favorite Artist. Here's the Technology Making It a Reality — But Better.
The Highest-Paid, Highest-Profile People in Every Field Know This Communication Strategy
After Early Rejection From Publishers, This Author Self-Published Her Book and Sold More Than 500,000 Copies. Here's How She Did It.
Having Trouble Speaking Up in Meetings? Try This Strategy.
He Names Brands for Amazon, Meta and Forever 21, and Says This Is the Big Blank Space in the Naming Game
Business News

These Are the Most and Least Affordable Places to Retire in The U.S.

The Northeast and West Coast are the least affordable, while areas in the Mountain State region tend to be ideal for retirees on a budget.

Business Solutions

This Comprehensive Microsoft Excel Course Can Turn You into a Whiz for $10

Master Microsoft Excel for less than the cost of your lunch with this top-rated course.

Growing a Business

5 Tips That Can Help You Seize Every Opportunity Your Next Industry Conference Has to Offer

Discover five ways to make the most out of the marketing, networking and personal and professional development opportunities a professional conference affords you.

Thought Leaders

The Collapse of Credit Suisse: A Cautionary Tale of Resistance to Hybrid Work

This cautionary tale serves as a reminder for business leaders to adapt to the changing world of work and prioritize their workforce's needs and preferences.

Business Ideas

55 Small Business Ideas To Start Right Now

To start one of these home-based businesses, you don't need a lot of funding -- just energy, passion and the drive to succeed.