Stop and Smell the Pizza
February 9 is National Pizza Day!
Imagining the aromatic wonders of a hot, cheesy pie cannot only uplift your mood, but it can also help you when suffering from a bout of anxiety.
During the past year, many people with increased anxiety have found that controlled breathing can help calm their brain and their body. Smelling an imaginary pizza is a quick way to help with stressful and anxious situations. Here’s how:
- Close your eyes and vision your favorite pizza, fresh from the oven, sitting right in front of you. Think of the cheese, pepperoni, and piping hot crust, and pretend you are smelling the pizza, just as you would if you were about to take your first bite of an actual slice.
- Breathe in deeply, through your nose until your tummy is fully inflated.
- Hold that breath in and count to five, then slowly release that breath out of your mouth, just as you would if cooling your slice before taking a bite.
- Repeat “smelling the pizza” four or five times until your mind and body are in a more relaxed state.
Happy National Pizza Day – whether you enjoy your pizza mentally or with an actual, in-the-hand slice!
