Clearing your mind is not always straightforward. Sometimes your mind is filling to the brim with deadlines and due dates. Sometimes it is filling with family problems or a best friend’s insult. At times, your mind may be overfilling with just the daily struggles of life. Before you have time to process it, everything is spilling out of you. A mental breakdown. It is essential that throughout your life that you take the time to clear your mind. However, that may be. If you do not know or are unsure about how to go about clearing your mind, here are some tips that can help you clear your mind.
When you are running or going for a jog, you are not thinking. Let me rephrase that. When you are running, you are not thinking about the papers that are waiting for you at work, the long formal essay that is due tomorrow, or the fact that you have not been able to sleep the past few nights. Instead, you are thinking about physical sensations, like keeping the pace as you steady your breath, your feet hitting the ground, or feeling the wind against your back. Thinking like this will help you clear your mind as you enjoy your run.
Meditation is all about mindfulness. The purpose of meditating is to achieve a mentally clear state of mind. While focusing on an object, thought, or place, you are stimulating the body’s natural relaxation response. Allowing you to experience more peace, less stress, better concentration, and self-awareness.
Music is renowned for its influence on the human mind. According to the University of Nevada, Reno, music has a profound effect on both the body and our emotions. Upbeat music influences you to be more confident and optimistic while Up-tempo music helps you be more alert and focus. However, the music we want to look at is soothing. Soothing music, or music that has a slow tempo, induces your mind to relax. As you listen to it, your muscles will begin to loosen up. Persuading the rest of your body to unwind and stop worrying.
In today’s world, writing is one of the most underestimated cure-alls. Writing things down has not only proven to improve memory, blood pressure, and the function of the lung and liver, but it has shown to do wonders for your mentality. The effects of writing down what is on your mind are similar to talking to a best friend. It helps you process your feelings and work through the inner conflict of going through them. Not only that, but it also enhances your self-awareness and knowledge. Allowing you to think more soundly.
Not many people like going to the gym. I get it. I like to eat and sleep too. However, going to the gym does have its perks, other than helping you gain some muscle. According to Leo Widrich, writer of Fast Company, when you exercise and work out, your body recognizes this as a stressful moment for you. Since your brain believes that you are in “fight or flight” mode, it begins to release Brain-Derived Neurotrophic factors (BDNF). BDNF is a protein that acts as a reset button to protect your brain from stress. That explains why people are able to think more clearly after they have finished working out.
I have been practicing archery for three years, and like many people, I saw no value in the skill. Instead, I was focused on the gun range and wondered what it would feel like to hold that much power in my hands and be able to wield it. I never got the chance to fire a gun. Instead, I fired an arrow. At first, I did it to say that I did it. I did not expect to fall in love with the practice or want to hone the skill. Now, whenever I am stressed or had a bad day at work, I pick up my bow, grab my case of arrows, and I head to the range. When I am there, it is only me, my bow, and the targets. With my bow and arrows, I can release my outbursts onto my targets instead of myself or others. Piercing the thin paper, styrofoam boar, or the matted wall with everything I have. There is nothing like the feeling of using only your two hands and unyielding strength to release everything. Let it all go.
Sitting down with a cup of tea in one hand and a book in the other sounds like the perfect way to de-stress. According to the University of Sussex, reading even six minutes can reduce stress levels by 68%. Reading helps you to get away from stressful matters. Whether it is deadlines, an exhausting day at work, or you just have too much on your plate. Take some time and indulge yourself with a good book. Let it absorb you. Allow you to think and read with a clear head.
Laying in a warm bathtub that is filled to the brim, with bubbles. They surround you. Layer you in their lather. The light is off, and a single candle is lit. There is no sound. Nothing but the slightest echo of your movements in the bathtub. You submerge your body. The water is just at your neckline. Doesn’t that sound nice? The next time you want to take a moment to let go, take a bath. Let the warm water soak up all your worries. Leaving you with nothing but a clear mind.
I know it may seem random but turn on some tunes, shut the door, and just start dancing. Dancing not only makes your body feel good but your mind as well. When you are dancing, you are allowing yourself to be free. You are letting go. Letting go of all worries, stresses, and any form of faults that you may have on your shoulders. Dancing helps create a positive outlet to express yourself. So, express yourself! Clear your mind and dance your worries away.
Learning how to be an adult is stressful. As Walt Disney once said, “Growing old is mandatory, but growing up is optional.” When life’s daily stresses start to overwhelm me, I go to my escape plan and watch a Disney movie or two. Some of the best Disney movies to watch that will help clear your mind are Aladdin, Bambi, Beauty and The Beast, Brave, Mulan, Tarzan, Finding Nemo, The Lion King, and Lilo & Stitch. Disney is Disney. How could Disney not make you happy and help you unwind? It is Disney!
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