This week’s idiom of the week is one the Apto team knows well! We’ve been so busy preparing for the kick off of our Phase 2 Beta, we haven’t had even a minute to stop and “catch our breath.” A phrase that can be used in a couple of ways, to “catch your breath” can literally mean you are physically exhausted and trying to breathe OR that you just need to take a break from whatever you are doing.
The handy, online Free Dictionary provides the following definition:
Catch one’s breath (see definition)
- Resume normal breathing after physical exertion of some kind, as in These stairs are steep; wait a minute till I catch my breath. This phrase once meant the same as hold one’s breath-that is, stop breathing momentarily-a usage no longer current. [Early 1800s]
- Relax, take a rest, as in “Events have been moving so fast I’d like to stop and catch my breath.”
As an expat in America, life is likely busy and exciting, but also demanding and stressful. Each new situation, even the simple ones like running to the grocery, requires focus and attention that can feel overwhelming. Remember, when life gets stressful – and we know it can when adjusting to life in a new country – sometimes the best thing you can do is take a little time to just “catch your breath” and enjoy something you love. Read a book, watch a movie, go for a walk, spend time with your family, or, even better, jump online and have fun with an Apto learning module!