6 Breathe, Laugh, Breathe

Yes, in that order. Start your next activity – facilitating a group, writing a case note, conducting an assessment, doing a home visit – with a simple breath. Then remind yourself that it’s OK to have fun and to laugh, even at work! And close your activity with another breath.

Our bodies like breath. Seems painfully obvious, I know. But when we’re tense and anxious, we tend to breathe less and to take shallow, ineffective breaths. This creates a cycle of further tension, as our brains are getting a message that something is wrong. Then we release more stress hormones and keep that cycle going. This cycle becomes particularly prevalent in many high-pressure helping settings. Our tension feeds the environment, and our clients are especially sensitive to it.

This is why many helpers teach their clients simple breathing exercises, and hopefully practice them as well. Breathing is an excellent tool to reset our entire person, body and mind. We think more clearly and interact more calmly. A relaxation or breathing exercise is a great way to ease anxious clients into a group setting. Just a few minutes of mindful breathing has measurable benefits on our physical and emotional states.[1]

Also important is the ability – and willingness – to laugh. Even though we deal with serious issues every day, we can’t be afraid to include humor and laughter in our work. There are numerous benefits when humor is used as a therapeutic tool, including enhancing trust between client and counselor and improving the effectiveness of groups.[2] Helpers do not need to shy away from incorporating appropriate humor, laughter, and fun into their work.

The work of recovery is never short on heavy and serious topics, from relapse prevention to trauma. Those discussions are important parts of the healing process, but so is catharsis, laughter, and relationship-building, for which humor provides an excellent gateway.

Using humor reminds clients that even in difficult times we can maintain a positive outlook on life. And when we share laughter with colleagues, it deepens those connections and makes the work environment less tense.

Finally, I recommend ending whatever task you have just completed with another relaxing breath. This puts closure on that activity and allows you to move on with a positive mindset. These subtle behaviors can form the basis of stress-reducing habits that we carry with us throughout our day. Maintaining a calm presence will benefit us, our colleagues, and our clients.

Three simple ideas – breathe, laugh, breathe – may help you practice more effectively, avoid burnout, and find balance in other aspects of your life. It also helps you and your client maintain perspective on life and where your work fits into a bigger picture.