We know when our mind has been getting overly busy, the mental chatter speeds up and feels incessant. Running through endless lists of stuff, moments between meetings or visiting a rest room are spent scrolling on phone, replying to messages, catching up on things. On waking up the mind kicks in and starts rattling through what’s ahead, as well as the previous day’s events and experiences. Going to bed, the mind can keep us wakeful, even when we feel tired.
Watching TV or scrolling helps to numb the mind into a passive receptor of ‘stuff’, but it is like putting on a temporary eye mask, the moment the mask is off when you switch off the screen, eyes are wide open, mind picks up just where it left off. It starts to build and make us feel weary, clogged up, like a big twisty knot of spaghetti of thoughts in our mind.
How do we take a break from this and still the mind, the thoughts, the inner dialogue running away with itself?
Start the day with stillness. On waking, sit up in bed, or sit in a quiet place where you can take a few breaths and start to feel centred. Look out of the window if you have a view of nature with trees or birds, watching and breathing gently, with awareness. Feel yourself on your sitting bones, connected to Mother Earth. Feel a sense of grounded peace. Feel the space in your mind feel open, calm and clear.
A minute at the start of your day spent in this gentle, peaceful place will set you up as you mean to go on. Feeling centred, calm, connected and quietly confident.
Tips for creating a calmer mind
01 : Wake up 10 minutes earlier to create a quiet time just for you
02 : Sit and breathe, looking at nature for a few minutes. Feel an inner smile arise
03 : Walking in nature helps clear the mind and this allows inspiration to flow in. Take a small notebook and pen!
04 : Consciously connect with Mother Earth each day, when sitting, contemplating. Try going barefoot on the grass!
05 : Try “Box Breathing” to feel centred and calm - breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, breathe out for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, repeat for 1-2 minutes