Mental detox
If your life is overflowing with social commitments, work deadlines, self-critical thoughts and negative energies it may be time for a mental detox.
Here’s how...
Get what you focus on. By focusing on the good stuff you take oomph out of negative thoughts and start to view the world through a more positive lens. Writing down what you’re grateful for each day for a month helps to establish a more positive outlook over time.
Know your priorities. What are the top three most important things in your life right now? Be clear of your priorities and do something every day that nurtures and progresses them.
Choose to be happy. Yes, you have a choice! Studies show that after the first 90 seconds of any thought or emotion you have a conscious choice to continue to think or feel that way or to replace it with something different. Take control of your feelings, don’t let them control you.
Learn to let go. Are you still angry with someone for something they did or didn’t do? Grudges are a major drain on emotional energy and you only create tension for yourself by continuing to hold on to them. Either set your intention to resolving the issue with them or let it go.
Know yourself. Consider your values and what drives you. Are you living a life that reflects and supports your values? The closer you are to your true self, the happier and simpler your life will be.
Practice mindfulness. Focus on the task at hand and avoid the temptation to multi-task. Juggling multiple things at once is inefficient and will leave you feeling frazzled at the end of the day. Be present with every activity and person. Life happens now, so enjoy the now.
Stop procrastinating. If you always feel one step behind where you want to be it can often paralyse you from taking any action at all. Break down your activities into smaller chunks and make the commitment to just do it. You know how good you’ll feel afterwards!
Get realistic about your fears. If you’re afraid of something, ask yourself how real your fear actually is. If it’s within your control to overcome it then take the steps or get the help you need to do so. If it’s outside of your control there’s really no point worrying about it anyway.
Detox your relationships. Gradually begin to step away from friendships that only ever drain you. Only create new friendships that are positive, supportive and fun. Aim to spend most of your time with people that bring you energy and inspire or support you.
Create ‘me time’. Make time for you. Watch an hour less TV each evening, make sure you take your lunch break or get up half an hour earlier. Spend this time doing something that relaxes and recharges you – take a bath, go for a walk, write your journal, meditate, read a book.
Get physical. Support your mental spring-clean with a physical one too. The days are longer and hopefully dryer, so get outside and move more. Exercising outdoors, especially in nature, connects us with our environment and improves our sense of wellbeing. Stretch daily – on waking, when sitting behind your computer, before bed.
You are what you eat. Simplify your diet too. Eating plenty of fresh, seasonal fruit and vegetables helps to cleanse the body after the stodgier food of winter, which boosts energy and mental clarity.
And breathe! Take regular breath breaks throughout the day – four deep inhales and exhales with a slight pause in between helps boost energy levels by increasing the amount of oxygen flowing through the body.