Cool reset
A cool cloth and slow breaths for a peak moment
- 2 to 4 min
- Early or limited research
Similar: Pause and cool down
Use a cool, wet cloth only. No ice water, no breath holds. Skip if you have a heart condition or feel unwell.
Please check each box first
Cooling the face can change how the heart beats in some people. If a box is not true for you, skip this tool and try slow breathing or grounding instead. If you take heart or blood pressure medicine, ask your doctor before trying it.
You will need a clean cloth and cool tap water. Never use ice water, and never hold your breath. Breathe in for 4 and out for 6.
About this tool
When feelings run very hot, cooling your face or wrists and breathing out slowly may help your body come down a notch. This is a gentler, lighter version of a skill used in some therapy programmes. It uses a cool damp cloth only, never ice water, and you never hold your breath. Research on it is limited, so treat it as one option among many.
Pick this one if your body feels hot or wound up and you want a cool cloth and slow breaths.