I don’t know about you, but when I’m really stressed my brain feels fully-loaded and about to explode!
My mind is so full to the brim I can’t think straight or focus.
What’s your mind like when you’re stressed?
A mind overwhelmed with repeated thoughts, numerous tasks, the demands of people, events, or memories can be exhausting.
It seems in this fast-paced world being busy is a common a way of measuring our usefulness and productivity.
However, if we let our mind run away with itself it can be disastrous to our health and wellbeing.
The most common problems of such a busy mind can include:
- Poor quality of sleep
- Lack of focus
- High levels of stress
- Poor decision making
- Irritable mood
- Anger
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Relationship conflict
I think that as blokes we exacerbate our overwhelmed mind by attempting to numb or wipe out repeated or constant overthinking.
Such numbing behaviours include:
- Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, including binge drinking
- Addiction to illicit drugs
- Over use of prescription medication.
- Constant use of various forms of screen time
How do we slow the mind down?
In some meditation philosophies the ‘monkey mind’ is a term used to describe how the mind swings from one thought to another like a monkey swinging from tree to tree never stopping.
If we are swinging from thought to thought without stopping, it’s easy to see how we can begin to feel out of control.
Slowing down is essential or we’ll just fall off the swings and hurt ourselves.
Research has shown how regular meditation including mindfulness practice assists in slowing busy overactive minds which can improve our mental and physical health.
The Benefits
The amazing benefits in slowing the mind include:
- Increase connection with yourself, your partner and to others in general
- More balance and less emotional volatility
- Calm and peace
- Self-acceptance and self-compassion
- Becoming less judgmental
- Manage difficult thoughts and feelings safely
- Increase self-awareness
- Less reactive to unpleasant experiences
There are physical health benefits too including:
- Stress relief
- Aids in the treatment of heart disease
- Lower blood pressure
- Reduction in chronic pain
- Improved sleep
Do you have a spare 6 minutes?
I really hope so, coz I have an exercise for you!
It will help you to slow down, find some clarity by simply pressing the pause button for a while. It may even help you to fall sleep.
It will take just 6 minutes to practice! The benefits are enormous with regular practice.
I suggest 2 sessions of 6 minutes. 12 minutes per day in total!
Give it a go!
The exercise below is narrated by my dulcet tones and first appeared on my counselling practice website.
Simply find a quiet, uninterrupted place and press the link below.
Enjoy!
