"The Trick Is to Keep Breathing" is a song by Garbage, released as the joint-fourth single from their platinum second album Version 2.0. The single was released in a number of European countries including Germany, Austria, Italy, Portugal and Greece. The single was released simultaneously alongside "When I Grow Up", which was issued in other European territories including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain and across Scandinavia; both singles used to promote Garbage's European arena tour.

"The Trick Is to Keep Breathing" was written and recorded by Garbage at their own recording studio in Madison, Wisconsin throughout 1997. Vocalist Shirley Manson used the title of Scottish author Janice Galloway's 1989 novel of the same name.

The basis of "The Trick Is to Keep Breathing" was conceived by Garbage in March 1997, whilst they were staying at a friend's house on Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, Washington, where they spent time jamming to come up with material for their second album. Shirley Manson: "The boys were playing some of the chords, and the lyrics just came out in like two minutes. I've never had to review them really. They were perfect the way they were, and that never happened to me before." "The Trick Is to Keep Breathing" started out "very simple", however over time there was a lot more recorded for it. When the band mixed the song, they made it "a lot more moody and spare". Shirley added "It's that general feeling of just keep pushing and you'll get through it. I think everybody can connect with that feeling".

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