Sit or rest quietly for a few minutes
Place your index and middle fingers on the inside of your wrist below the base of the thumb
Or place those fingers on the side of your neck beside your windpipe
Press gently until you feel a steady beat
Do not use your thumb
Count the beats for 30 seconds
Multiply that number by 2 to get beats per minute
For a more accurate reading, count for 60 seconds
Record the result if needed
Repeat if the pulse feels irregular