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Email apnea: why you hold your breath at your desk
Many of us stop breathing for a moment when we open our inbox. Here is how to notice it.
By Rhythm Breathwork Editorial · · 3 min read
Writer and former Apple and Microsoft executive Linda Stone coined the phrase after noticing she held her breath while reading email. When she asked others, many found they did the same.
Why it matters
Shallow or held breathing nudges the body toward a stress response. Over a long workday, those small pauses add up to feeling wired and tired at the same time.
A simple fix
Pair a breath with a habit. Every time you open a new message, take one slow breath out before you read. It takes four seconds and changes the tone of your whole afternoon.
Before you open the next message, breathe out. Four seconds. That is it.
The research behind this
For education only, not medical advice. Check with a doctor if you have a health condition.
