Most of us know the term "apnea" in connection with "sleep apnea", a condition classified as a sleep disorder. It is characterised by repeated, uncontrolled breath holding during sleep which may cause serious health problems. A lower oxygen supply to the organism increases stress, produces chemical imbalances and weakens our immune system. We are more susceptible to infections and other diseases, and our ability to work effectively decreases. However, the same symptoms also characterise "e-mail apnea" - a problem first highlighted by Linda Stone, writer, consultant and former manager of Apple and Microsoft, in 2008.
Are e-mails breath-taking?
Linda Stone focuses on the relationships between people, their health, and modern technologies. She noted that even if there were no special e-mails in her mail box, she held her breath or breathed shallowly when reading them and especially when answering. Then she noticed that other people around her tended to breathe in the same way, and some of them were even hyperventilating. The only fact that we sit a lot at work makes healthy breathing more difficult and damages our health. But what if we sit and suffer from e-mail apnea at the same time?
In collaboration with scientists from the US National Institute of Health, Linda Stone performed research on unconscious breath holding while reading and writing e-mails. The results were published on huffingtonpost.com. The research lasted for seven months and included monitoring and interviews with more than 200 people. It turned out that 80% of them had the problem called e-mail apnea.
Breathing exercises can help
The next time you read or write an e-mail, try to focus more on your body. In an article on the Psychology Today website, psychologist Susan M. Pollak of the Harvard Medical School advises asking yourself the following questions: How do you sit? Do you bend down to your computer or phone? Do you breathe shallowly? Do you feel tense? Do you breathe too fast? If you notice a problem, try the following exercise.
1. Sit comfortably, but upright. You can also close your eyes. Do not look at the screen. Concentrate on a certain spot on the floor in front of you.
2. Breathe naturally. Do not try to control your breathing too much.
3. Take two deep breaths. Feel the full range inhaling and exhaling. If your mind slips away, do not worry, go back to breathing without feeling that you've done something wrong.
4. Pay special attention to the third breath and remember the great feeling of natural inhalation and exhalation.
5. Stand up for a moment, stretch your muscles and ideally take a short walk before you return to your work. You will not only feel better, but also think more clearly.
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