Hi Dr. Laura,

I listened to the show on podcast the other day when you talked about ways to de-stress and practice self-care. One of the tips was breathing, which you mentioned doesn't really help you. I'm the same way. However, I recently discovered a breathing technique recommended by a friend that works great, so thought I'd share it with you!

This breathing exercise is good for falling asleep or just calming down if you get stressed and I've found it to be really useful.

The method is:

• Inhale for 4 seconds 
• Hold your breath with your lungs full for 7 seconds
• Exhale fully for 8 seconds, and repeat.

To help calm the environment, I also use an essential oil diffuser with citrus oils. It smells great and gives the room an uplifting, cheery feel. My favorites are tangerine, lemon, peppermint, and lavender. It's a small thing but I find it can be uplifting when you're feeling down.

Warmly,

Hillary