Quiet Your Mind — 4 Tried and True Stress Reducers

When you quiet your mind, no matter what stresses press on your time, you give yourself breathing space and an energy boost.

And while there may be times in your life when this feels like an impossible goal, it actually never is. What’s required is a simple choice on your part. And that choice is always within reach.

For millennia, we humans have pursued inner peace and have developed a variety of pathways for attaining it.

Different paths work for different people, so it’s important to experiment. Keep trying methods until you find what works for you. (And don’t give up until you do.) So, if you’re seeking to quiet your mind here are some tried and true techniques to try.

Meditation

• Breathing meditation. This is a simple and effective method for calming your mind. Start by finding a comfortable and quiet place where you can sit and observe your breath. With practice, you’ll be able to place your mind on your breath in any situation.

• Single-pointed concentration. Train your mind to rest upon an object of meditation whether it’s a candle or a spoken mantra. Note any distracting thoughts but decline to pursue them. Bring your mind back to your chosen object.

• Visualization. Select and focus on images that create feelings happiness and serenity. Perhaps you may want to picture snow-capped mountains or sheep grazing in a meadow.

• Positive thoughts and affirmations. Soothe your mind by repeating any thought, affirmation, or quote that is meaningful for you and brings calming energy.

Quiet Your Mind with Water

• Take a bath. Human beings have long appreciated the calming effects of water. A simple warm bath can soothe and quiet your mind. Rest your head on a bath pillow and add some comforting scents. Turn the lights down low and play soft music.

• Listen to the sound of water. Find places to sit near running water or the sound of the surf. Alternatively, you can find recordings of different water sounds that you can play anywhere to give yourself this soothing gift.

Nature Soothes

• Go for a walk. Even a short walk will do wonders to restore your peace of mind. Try using a timer to remind yourself to step outside, even if just for a moment.

• Cultivate a garden. Gardening helps you slow down and appreciate the natural world. Even if you don’t have a yard, you can work with plants that will grow indoors or in a small space. Focus and calm your mind in your garden.

• Spend time with animals. Take your dog for a walk. Watch your cat at play. Time with animals is so restorative that it has even been proven to help people recover from surgery faster.

Let the Present Moment Quiet Your Mind

• Put the past behind you. If you’re ruminating about past misfortunes, decide if you’d rather devote your energy to the present. Then consciously work to let go of whatever has you stuck. Open your hands as a symbol of letting go, and keep bringing your mind back to the present.

• Greet the future with open eyes. The future always carries some uncertainty. Focus on welcoming it, knowing that you can handle whatever comes and learn and grow, no matter what.

• Enjoy the present moment. Give your full attention to what is happening now. Appreciate the opportunities before you and the good things that surround you. Engage fully with the moments of your life.

I hope you find these ideas helpful. And what will be your first step, today, to begin to quiet your mind?

Here are some more ideas…

Have you had times in your life that just felt good to you? Moments that you would go back to if you could? I call this your ‘Ideal Day” and it’s different for each of us. What do you picture when you imagine something like that for yourself? Are you peaceful and quiet? Maybe you’re focused and fully engaged in a project or pursuit.

The answers will be unique to you, but what’s always the same, though, is that it’s something you can give yourself whenever you choose. And something that can help you with this is my E-Guide titled Living Your Ideal Day: How to Move Past Barriers and Find Your Way to More Time, Space, and Energy.

This E-Guide and its bonus checklist offer a path to deeper self-knowledge along with practical, heart-based time wisdom. Ready to become an expert in living your time to its fullest? Living Your Ideal Day will get you started.

Click here if you’re ready to discover more right now.