March Mindfulness is our new series that examines the explosive growth in mindfulness and meditation technology — culminating in Mashable's groundbreaking competitive meditation bracket contest. Because March shouldn't be all madness.
When you're stressed -- consumed by thoughts about your next career move, that embarrassing thing you said a few weeks ago, or anything else that makes your chest tight -- it's helpful to bring yourself back into the present by taking a few deep, steady breaths.
Obviously, that's not always easy, but there are plenty of captivating GIFs that can help you visualize your way to mindfulness. These 10 will shift your focus away from your thoughts and toward your breathing. Take a look, breathe in, breath out, and wind down.
1. Stress balloon
Imagine you are blowing up a red balloon with your stressful thoughts as you take slow breaths and then let it float away.
2. Expanding hexagon
Breathe while you watch three white lines inflate into a green hexagon, deflate, then repeat.
3. Marble on fire
Whether it's your birthday or not, this festive GIF works as an effective breathing exercise.
4. Growing scribble
Imagine this black circle represents your worries, shrinking into a tiny speck.
5. Rainbow circle
Ooh. Ahh. Inhale and exhale while you admire all the colors in this watercolor painting.
6. Unconventional clock
Breathe in at blue o'clock and breathe out at green o'clock.
7. Beating heart
Match your breathing with this ever-changing heart.
8. Surprise octagon
Watch as this octagon neatly folds into a single black line.
9. Circle within a circle
No matter what's going on in your head or your immediate surroundings, focus on the blue circle for two to five minutes.
10. Moving sphere
Let this geometric shape remind you to breathe.
