Mind noise can become overwhelming, often making it difficult to focus and see clearly. The distraction from this continuous chatter of the mind can often lead to us experiencing great anxiety.
The mind often repeats the same thoughts over and over again. If they are positive thoughts – BRILLIANT, but more often than not, if life is chaotic and stressful, those thoughts are negative and overwhelming. We often continuously rehash over the difficulties and challenges we may be experiencing or facing.
As we begin this new year, add to your list of intentions the following – Prioritising mental wellness.
Stop and identify your thoughts. What are you filling your mind with?
Just trying to fit everyday demands into your schedule can cause the mind to go into overdrive. You can’t hear yourself think. Wherever the noise is coming from, ensure you identify it. It’s important to stop the harassing negative thoughts before you are completely overloaded. When that mental noise subsides, your focus will become deeper and clearer and your life will become calmer.
Turn that switch to OFF
If the noise is all consuming, it’s time to turn it down. How do we eliminate this noise and clear our minds?
The first step is to simply STOP. Be conscious of what you are focusing your thoughts on. Pay attention to the internal dialogue you are running.
This will help you to realise firstly- what you are actually thinking about and secondly – it will also begin the necessary process of interrupting any unnecessary, stressful mind chatter.
Practice concentration. Focus completely on a thought that is uplifting. If your mind starts to wander, quickly refocus on the initial positive thought. Work daily on strengthening your ability to concentrate.
Meditation will close the mind to distracting and negative thoughts. You don’t need to be a yogi to meditate. A few minutes of meditation each day will calm down the mental noise and bring you closer to achieving inner peace. Start with 10 slow deep breaths. This will automatically bring your mind and body back into balance. Just breathing and focusing on your breath will quickly induce a meditative state. You will feel centred, and it will be easier to focus.
Just like with a radio, you can turn this noise up or turn it down. Concentrate on filling your mind with all that is positive in your world and tune into those thoughts.
Go for a quick walk in the fresh air to settle your mind down. It’s hard to feel anxious when you surround yourself with nature.
Put up a stop sign
Set boundaries for friends, family and work commitments. It’s fine to close down our computers and turn off our phones on the weekend and after hours. Email, social media and texting are all continuous lifelines connecting us to people 24/7.
Many are addicted to social media. Some are so focused on it that they are consumed more with other people’s lives than their own. If this sounds like you, commit to turning off your phones and Internet when you are at home. Allow your mind to rest and re-focus on peace and quiet. If it is too difficult to completely shut down your phones and emails, allocate certain times for checking them. Make some rules about how long you will spend reviewing messages, and be vigilant about adhering to them.
Turn off your mobile
What would happen if you turned off your phone? People would most likely leave a message if they needed to contact you urgently and then you could choose and control whom you wish to respond to. At the end of the day, if a client values you enough, they will wait for you to contact them.
It’s your choice
It sounds easy doesn’t it? Well, it is. If you are bombarded with mindless noise, TURN IT OFF.
It is vital to really manage all aspects of your wellness, mentally, physically and spiritually. It is important to stop thinking of clearing out any areas of your life that are stressed as a tremendous, overwhelming task. Instead, start thinking of it as one of the most vital self-improvement tactics you can possibly do.
Self-care and making better choices with all areas of your health and your life is empowering.
I wish you complete wellness in mind, body and spirit in 2016.
Happy New Year.