Growing up, I had the pleasure of living a life that was almost headache-free. This probably had a lot to do with not having too many worries as a child. As a result, life was bliss. Sadly, as I got older, the stress of adulthood began to loom over me, and for the first time, I experienced my first serious headache. These headaches would come and go, but on one particular day, I developed a tension headache that would end up lasting several months. After a few visits with my family doctor, I was told my headaches were due to stress, lack of sleep, and too much technology use without enough mental breaks. She prescribed over the counter medicine, but it didn’t stop the pain for long, and the headaches were a constant monkey on my mind. Not wanting to succumb to a life dependent on medication, I decided to make a change—a mental detox from all the things that clouded my mind.
Benefits of Detoxifying Your Mind
For most, when the word “cleanse” or “detoxify” spring up, we think about a physical cleanse of the body. Although cleansing our bodies of toxicity is essential, a mental detox is just as important. Together, both mental and physical well-being make for an all around well-balanced state of being.
While I am no expert in the field, I can attest that after beginning the pursuit of a mental detox, I became a much better version of myself. I noticed my energy level soared as I let go of the things that didn’t matter and concentrated on the things that did. I became glued to positive thoughts that helped me reconnect with myself. Everything was a domino effect of positivity: when we begin to live a healthier life, everything else seems to fall into place. Balance seemed to restore in my mind, body, and spirit.
6 Simple Ways to do a Mental Detox
1. Think positive. Pay attention to the things you focus on—are they worth your time? If the answer is no, make a change. Our thoughts frame the person we are, and when we think positive thoughts, we become a much more positive person. I found when I consumed my mind with good intentions, good karma always followed.
2. Give your mind a break. Meditation has always been an interest of mine, but sadly I was never able to stay in a deep focus for long. When I’m in need of a mental break, I’ll spend a few minutes with a good read, water my plants, or go on a short 10-minute hike. Instead of concentrating on my racing thoughts, I try to pay attention to my surroundings and focus on the ease of my actions. These are other great ways to refresh your mind and find your inner peace.
3. Spend your mental energy on things you can control. Stress can cloud our mind with negative energy. There’s not much use stressing over events we can’t control, but we can tell ourselves to not let those events hinder our spirits and prevent us from being happy. With a better state of being, we’re more equipped to find a solution or think of what we can do after the fact. And have you noticed, most of the things you stress about never end up happening as you imagined? Don’t allow yourself to sulk when it is not necessary.
4. Let go and express your inner feelings. I used to keep my thoughts bottled up inside until it drove me insane. Once I started letting my emotions out, my mind began to feel free. Be honest with yourself and how you really feel. If something is bothering you, talk to someone about it. You can also try emptying your thoughts into a journal. I’ve found that letting my feelings out always helps me feel better and ease my mind about a situation.
5. Get in tune with your life. A problem my doctor said was linked to my reoccurring headaches was my extensive use of technology. There’s a lot going on online, and I always wanted to be in the know. However, once I ceased to live vicariously through my phone, I began to feel calmer and more at peace. Now, instead of scrolling through my Instagram newsfeed, I spend 15 minutes after waking up to greet the day and 15 minutes before bed to disconnect and reflect.
Tip: Try to think about what you are grateful for as you disconnect and let the positive thoughts run through your mind.
6. Clear the overcrowded energy around you. When I am stressed, I’ve always found cleaning to help. It’s true–mental and physical cleanses go hand in hand. Take a deep look around your home–do you need all the things you have? Spend time gathering items you no longer use, and donate them to a local charitable drive. Go through your emails, and delete all your spam messages. Clear out that corner of your room (everyone has a corner in their house where they throw all their clutter). At the end of the day, when my surroundings are clearer, my mind feels clearer, too.
I hope these tips can help you detoxify and spring clean your mind for the new season. A mental detox isn’t a one-time thing but a perpetual process of ridding ourselves of thoughts that cloud our mental space. Although they’re not all negative, our thoughts do pile up and can get a bit overwhelming. With a mental detox, you will begin to live a life better for you. Giving your minds the rest it needs results in a better mood and can even aid in better sleep. You’ll find yourself in a much happier state of mind.
What are your favorite ways to cleanse your mind?
Also by Jennifer: 5 Easy Ways to Transition to a Raw Diet
Related: 5 Ways to Embrace a Lo-Fi Lifestyle
4 Mini Vacations for Mental Health
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