Life can sometimes be hard. There are days when we feel so lethargic; where all we want to do is lay on the bed, doing nothing the whole day. We may take a day off from work or for that matter waste our Sundays doing nothing! Sure, our bodies get the rest they demand but what about the mind?
Our mind is constantly working to keep generating thoughts. Even as you read this, numerous thoughts are running in your head. Aren’t they? See, that’s why it is important to relax your mind and snooze your thoughts each day, even if it is for a little while. After all, relaxation is everybody’s right.
Here, I am sharing with you 5 ways to calm your mind. Oh, and don’t worry, no coach required! You can do these on your own. These work for me every time, and I am pretty sure these will be effective for you as well. Read on to know more!
Also Read: What You Can Do To Retrain Your Brain for Positivity
How to Calm Your Mind Instantly?
- Listen to music
Music heals everything. Feeling tired? Listen to music! Feeling restless? Listen to music! Lie down on your bed/sofa, or recline on a chair, plug in your earphones, play your favorite playlist, close your eyes, and enjoy. Let the music speak to you. Let go of everything and immerse yourself completely in the vibe. Do not think about anything. Just keep enjoying the moment. And then, when you will open your eyes, you will find yourself smiling, because you will be at peace. Your mind will be at peace. And FYI, listening to music is one of the proven ways of stress management.
- Write down 5 things that you are grateful for!
Now, come on! Everybody can list at least 5 things that they’re grateful for. For instance – I am grateful for (1) today, (2), I am healthy, (3) I can read and write, (4) I am blessed with all the necessities, and (5) that a wonderful soul like you is reading my blog.
When you take time to focus on the good things in life, you become more positive and you become happier. This technique contributes tons to the reduction of stress. Whether you are under emotional stress or work stress, try writing down at least 1 (if not 5) thing that you are really thankful for. Trust me, gratitude is good for us!
- Exercise
‘Mens sana in corpore sano’, meaning ‘A healthy mind in a healthy body.’ A phrase that we all have studied in school. Perhaps, it’s time to learn it now. Physical exercise is an important part of mind and body wellness.
It isn’t necessary to do strenuous exercise to release stress. You can simply take a walk or jog around or you can do it in the most fun way – DANCE like no one is watching you. This releases happy hormones – dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, endorphins, that are good for your body and mind. Exercising daily leads to stress reduction and improves your well-being.
- Meditate
This is by far the best mind therapy. Just breathe in and breathe out. Pay attention to your breath. When your attention wanders, recollect yourself and return to focusing on your breath. This is known as Mindfulness Meditation. Do it for 15 minutes every day and your stress will be reduced. Besides, it also helps in lowering blood pressure, improves sleep, lessens gastrointestinal difficulties, treats heart disease, and more.
Amidst our busy schedules and demanding lives, I believe meditation is necessary. An old Zen saying suggests, “You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes every day – unless you’re too busy. Then you should sit for an hour.” All kidding aside, it is best to start with 5 minutes or 10 minutes or 15 minutes, and then gradually increase the span as per your convenience.
Here is an easy breathing exercise for you-
- Inhale slowly through your nose, and keep your shoulders relaxed. Your abdomen should expand but your chest should rise a little.
- Exhale slowly through your mouth. You may purse your lips a little, but keep your jaw relaxed.
- Repeat. Do it for several minutes until you start feeling better.
- Hang out with a dog
Spending just a few minutes with your four-legged friend lowers anxiety, and increases the levels of dopamine and serotonin – two neurochemicals that play a major role in developing a happy mind. Moreover, playing with a pet, especially dog staves off depression. Studies show that spending time with your dog decreases the levels of cortisol – a stress hormone, and increases the production of serotonin – a happy hormone, in your body. In fact, simply watching your dog may prove to be beneficial for your mental health.
So, these were the top 5 ways that are guaranteed to calm your mind. Other ways to instantly relax your mind are having your favorite chocolate, splashing cold water on your face, getting a head massage, or taking a cleaning spree. Anxious thoughts can overwhelm you, and you might feel exhausted all the time. Anxiety may also lead to overthinking which in turn may make you more anxious. Thus, it is very important to step out of this vicious cycle.
Often, in order to maintain calm, many people ignore or avoid anxious thoughts. But that won’t work in the long run. Because these thoughts will recur. Trust me! The right solution is to find the techniques that will be effective in healing your body and mind in the long run. So, listen to your favorite music, dance like no one’s watching, meditate, write down your worries, and spend some time with your furry friend. And you will soon observe the positive effects on your mind. So, which ways are you going to adopt? Let me know in the comments. I’d also love to know how you cope with anxious situations? What are your go-to options to calm your mind? Keep the comments coming!
