Spring is almost here so it’s time to dust those cobwebs and open the windows to let the fresh air circulate. While we do this with our homes, how many of us incorporate the same principle for our minds? Here are four surefire ways to reboot for the new season:
1) Carve out quiet time: Just like with exercise, if we don’t take time to be intentional about this it’s unlikely to happen. It’s easy to go without silence from the time we wake up to the time our head hits the pillow. Yet there are some easy ways we can incorporate quiet time: while we’re driving to work, lunch breaks, weekends. Meditate, hike, or take a few moments before bed to reflect on your day. This is more important than we realize. Research has shown that silence lowers our stress levels, frees up our ‘inner RAM’ so we’re able to problem solve more effectively, and might even lead to new brain cells being generated!
2) Nix the negative: It’s so easy to focus on what’s going wrong, whether it be with ourselves, with our circumstances, or with the world. Take an inventory of the negative influences in your life whether it be the 24-hour news circuit you’re connected to, what you choose to read, or who you spend time with. Challenge yourself to cut back on the negative – and here’s the key – replace that space with the positive. Post uplifting comments on social media, be intentional with how much time you spend with Negative Nelly’s or reconnect with an old friend, and watch funny or inspirational movies or TV shows.
3) Let go of loneliness: Did you know that the number of Americans who report no close friends have literally tripled in the last 30 years? And as we age, we generally have fewer friends and spend more time alone. With the holidays behind us and warmer weather ahead, now is the time to set an intention for reaching out. While letting go of loneliness is much easier said than done, it starts a commitment. Reconnect with someone you haven’t seen in a while, like that old friend you haven’t contacted in months. Or take a risk to try something new. Ask your coworkers to do a social event over the weekend (like a hike), join Meetup.com and search for local activities, or sign up for a class.
4) Challenge your chatter: Researchers have been peeling back the layers of our mind and what they’re finding is startling. For example, we generally have 50,000 to 70,000 thoughts per day…and 80% of them are negative. And did you know that only about 5-10% are new and not recycled from before? The most important point here is that not every thought we think is true, so it’s a critical life skill that we 1) grow in how active we are paying attention to our thinking, and 2) level up our ability to lovingly challenge what first comes to our mind. Play scientist with yourself and ask for the evidence of what makes this negative thought you’re stuck on absolutely true? Work to make your mind a comfy place to chill since we’re the one person we can never get away from!