RhythmBreathe: A wearable breathing-guidance system to support stress regulation in freelancers’ home work environments

Abstract

Freelancers often engage in prolonged, self-managed desk-based work with limited opportunities for structured breaks, which can contribute to increased stress and shallow breathing. Slow, guided breathing is effective for stress regulation, yet many existing breathing-support systems require explicit attention, making them difficult to use during work. This paper presents RhythmBreathe, a wearable breathing-support prototype implemented in a soft neck-worn form that uses an accelerometer positioned near the clavicle to sense breathing-related chest movement and provides synchronized vibrotactile and visual cues to guide slow, paced breathing. We evaluated RhythmBreathe in a mixed-method study with 24 participants across baseline relaxation, cognitive stress, and guided breathing conditions. Findings demonstrated increased anxiety and breathing irregularity during stress, followed by improved relaxation and slower breathing patterns during guided breathing. Participants additionally reported generally positive experiences with the wearable breathing-guidance interaction.