By Seth D. Cohen for Stop.Breathe.Action

What’s it about LIFE that were so afraid of? Why does fear constantly ruin our day? Why can’t we slow down, turn off the cell phone and shut down the computer? Why can’t we just enjoy our surroundings? We seem to only change our mentality when we know we have to be on top of our game or when someone provides us with detailed, step by step instructions. But rarely do we simply wake up and abide by our own life’s rules and habits. It’s time that we start!

As a certified scuba diver, I was taught underwater breathing and swimming techniques in order to maximize the length of each dive. You could only imagine that if you don’t breathe or swim properly you can use up your air quickly and place yourself in a life threatening situation. It’s about relaxing your breathe, breathing in a consistent manner and swimming slowly, reducing your energy output.

Below are techniques and tools from Padi.com to extend bottom time and stay down longer on each scuba dive.

• Relax and breathe normally both on the surface and underwater. On descent, try to exhale all the air from your lungs and any tension from the rest of you. Get underwater quickly, where scuba equipment is more comfortable and easier to manage. Swim slowly and enjoy the scenery to make your air last longer. Scuba diving should not be a speed sport.
• Limit multitasking. If you’re trying to enjoy a scuba dive, take pictures and make notes to help you identify fish all at the same time, chances are good your air consumption will go up. Pick one activity to enjoy per scuba dive to get the most bottom time.
• When you can remain neutral with nearly no effort, you’re relaxed and your air will go a lot farther.

We can actually use these scuba diving techniques in our everyday life.

• Relax and breathe normally throughout the day – when you feel yourself breathing faster due to stress or anxiety, stop and slow the breathe down.
• Move efficiently and enjoy the surroundings throughout the day – we don’t need to be racing everywhere using up vital energy on meaningless things. Focus your energy on the task at hand and execute.
• Limit multitasking – the more we try to do at the same time, the more stressed we get and the less we actually accomplish.
• Synchronize mind and body. It’s just as important to work on your mind; being present and aware, as it is going to the gym and working on your body.
• Have some fun. Although you need to follow certain techniques to survive in this world – - you can also have fun doing it. Don’t be so damn serious.

The key to all these techniques is to make them into habits. That’s why I promote making action a habit.  Just like brushing your teeth or going to the bathroom, make these techniques part of your life.

As always, it’s an absolute honor to motivate and inspire you and I don’t for one day take that for granted. I know you have a choice to read thousands of motivational blogs, and I thank you for stoping by. Scuba dive through life and make ACTION a daily habit. It’s all possible. I hope to see you back here for the next post.

SDC