Breathe/Move/Rest
Three daily practices that are free, easy, fun, and good for you!
I've tried a lot of self-improvement over the years — philosophy, meditation, productivity systems. This is what stuck: three physical habits that stack on top of each other every day. No apps, no subscriptions, no grand framework. No magic beans.
Breathe
At its most basic: sit somewhere, breathe in slowly through your nose, deep into the diaphragm. As slow as you can handle — down to about 2–3 breaths a minute — for 10–20 minutes. No apps, no complex technique. Then, throughout the day, stop and breathe for a few minutes, especially when you need to settle in and think.
When I breathe slower, I react slower too. Not sluggish — just less reactive, less on autopilot. I studied meditation for years and found it tends to get in its own way. This is simpler: breathe when you remember to, otherwise get on with your day.
James Nestor's Breath is what got me started on this.
Move
I've never loved the gym — everything else is just more fun. Walking, stretching, yoga, calisthenics, a good hike, carrying the groceries a few extra blocks. It all counts. This is called "move" and not "exercise" for a reason: it's about building motion throughout the whole day, not cramming in one heroic gym session.
A healthy body gives a healthy mind. It's hard to live well when you're always tired and sore. Keeping your body in motion tends to keep everything else in motion too.
Alison Bechdel's The Secret to Superhuman Strength captures this well — it's not what you'd expect from the title.
Rest
This was the hardest one for me - eventually, you have to stop. This isn't relaxation, it's rest: the art of doing nothing for a period of a time. Sit quietly, sleep, stare at clouds. It's easy to confuse the two, but relaxation is still something "out there" with structure and purpose.
Anyone that is switched on 24/7 is missing out. I'm a recovering workaholic so it's my weakest point, but the payback is enormous. When you get the chance, stop, do nothing, with no purpose. Just let go.
Alex Pang's Rest, but honestly you could also just do...nothing.
Brisbane-based, not a guru, just found a few things I love doing every day