Life isn’t always easy and we constantly have to deal with ups and downs, tackle challenges, overcome unplanned obstacles and handle setbacks and arguments. All of this leads to an enormous amount of stress and if we let it build up, it can consume us and lead to a meltdown.
Keeping a clear mind is the only way to stay focused on achieving any goal we set our mind to amidst all of this stress. Clearing our mind is almost as if we have to take a step outside of ourselves and while meditation is an amazing tool in theory, it doesn’t always work when we are completely stressed out.
Just think about it, you sit or lie down, close your eyes and focus on your breath to clear your mind and immediately your to-do-list pops up in your mind, your phone rings, your partner or children or dog interrupts you and the construction work next door isn’t exactly helpful to find peace and quite and before you know it, you give up.
While we highly recommend to keep practicing meditation because it is an excellent tool for your health and wellbeing on so many levels, there are other ways to help you clear your mind and find a sense of well-being and peace.
Here are our TOP 10 activities to clear your mind.
#1 Hit the Gym
Going for an intense workout at the gym is one of the best ways to give your body a break from stress and you can literally sweat out the stress. The biggest hurdle in this strategy is to find the motivation to actually get yourself to the gym, but once you get into the habit of working out regularly, you will do everything to get the opportunity to de-stress at the gym and clear your mind. Leave your smart phone in the locker, crank up your favorite tunes on your headphones and get your heart rate going and your blood flowing. Besides de-stressing and clearing your mind, hitting the gym comes with a multitude of health benefits that should be enough to find the motivation to make working out a daily habit.
#2 Go for a Podcast Walk
Put on an inspirational podcast and venture out into nature for a long walk. Whether you go to the park, the beach or a hiking trail, make sure to give yourself a great setting to forget all the stresses of the day and get lost in the beauty of nature and the inspirational message from your podcast. You will be amazed how quickly stress will melt away and you can start to refocus and clear your head.
#3 Unplug from Technology
We live in a time where we have to deal with an overwhelming flow of information every second of the day, so in order to clear your mind, shut off all your technology and do something that you truly enjoy. Responding to every text, email and notification in the instant you get it, will only make a stressful situation worse, but if you unplug from technology and give yourself a break from the constant bombardment of information, you give yourself the chance to relax and reset your mind to move on with a lot more focus and concentration.
#4 Talk to a Friend
Venting to a friend when things get crazy is a surefire way to release what’s bothering you and clear your mind. Set aside a few minutes to discuss your worries, obstacles and problems with a trusted person, because simply talking things out can give you a new perspective and see things more clearly. Just make sure you don’t go on and on about a problem and talk in circles. A few minutes should be just enough to clear the energy without giving it too much power to have an adverse effect.
#5 Journal
We’ve talked about the magic of journaling before. It is such a powerful practice that can clear your mind and help you find emotional balance. Whenever you feel like that the stress is becoming too overwhelming, pull out your journal and start to write down everything that comes to your mind. Release your thoughts, emotions, feelings, worries and anxieties on a blank piece of paper and you’ll be surprised that after a few minutes you will be able to effortlessly come up with a solution to any problem you are dealing with.
#6 Get Wet
Water has a powerfully relaxing and calming effect on you, so whether you jump into a pool, sit at the beach, take a shower or bubble bath, take a walk in the rain or simply enjoy a refreshing glass of water, you will feel the positive effects immediately. Water soothes your mind, lifts your mood and drinking water can actually help your body to detoxify and flush out toxins, which increases the blood flow and with that helps your brain and mind to function better and more productively.
#7 Dance and Sing
Even if you have two left feet and can’t carry a tune, dancing and singing are powerful ways to boost your mood by increasing serotonin levels in your brain, which allows you to clear your head and get you out of a stressful situation and into a more positive mindset. The magic of music along with singing and dancing can give you an immediate relief from stress and allows you to find your balance and inner peace to move forward into the direction of your dreams.
#8 Masturbate
Having an orgasm is one of the only times in our lives when our mind is completely clear, so masturbation is essentially mediation, just a little more pleasurable and fun. If you have a partner, having sex with him or her is obviously a great choice as well, but if you are alone, masturbation is a surefire way to release stress and clear your mind when you feel like the craziness of the world is all on your shoulders and about to crush you.
#9 Knit or Crochet
Keeping your hands busy while your mind is loosely focused on what you are doing is a meditative practice that has amazing emotional benefits and you’ll end up with a cozy blanket or scarf at the same time. When you sit quietly for an hour or so to knit or crochet, you can get lost in the repetitive act, which melts away the stresses of the day and allows you to find inner peace and balance to tackle anything that’s coming your way next.
#10 Try Something New
Any time we challenge ourselves to try something new, we push the boundaries of our comfort zone, which allows us to focus on something else than the problems we are currently dealing with. Sign up for a workshop or seminar, venture out to a new area of your city or explore a different city altogether, go to a networking event, meet new people, learn something new that stimulates your mind. Exposing yourself to new experiences and new people will give you a new perspective on things and clear your mind, you get your creativity flowing and open up new possibilities.
When things go crazy and you need to clear your mind and reclaim your focus, exercise is one of the best ways to give your brain a boost, organize your thoughts and find mental clarity. A recent study from the Netherlands found that sitting still isn’t going to get you anywhere, but ditching the couch and getting active is one of the most effective ways to rejuvenate your mind.
CARVE OUT TIME TO REFOCUS AND CRUSH ANY GOAL YOU SET YOUR MIND TO
Joschi & Monika
#BoldNaked