Have you heard the saying, “Thoughts are things”? Thoughts; those ideas, words, beliefs and feelings that become the entirety of our lives.
If you’re like me then you’re a productive gal who gets EVERYTHING done.
The problem with being the captain of the ship (as you are) is you often have to be the first mate, second mate, bosun, chief engineer, second engineer, cook and need I go on?
You darling, are the ultimate glue to getting things accomplished and the accumulation of that can become taxing to say the least.
If you find yourself having a hard time quieting your mind and managing your thoughts, then this post is for you.
Practice Intentional Breathing
Everyday we breathe by necessity and seldom ever think of it.
Intentional breathing can be a game changer for managing your thoughts because the idea is to inhale your intentions and exhale all that you wish to release.
Intentional breathing refers to breathing in deep for five seconds, holding it and exhaling for five.
Intentional breathing is an aspect of meditation if practiced consistently can quiet those loud, boisterous thoughts that translate into migraines, sleeplessness, tiredness and fatigue.
For more on practicing mindful meditation, check out this post.
Organize Your Day With Lists
Nothing muddles the mind like having unfinished or unaccomplished tasks. While we can try to settle the mind, it becomes harder and harder as our organization habits fall apart.
I’m guilty of this at times too and the worse part is having to see the thing that needs to be organized stare back at you day after day after day! It’s a scary vision.
The best thing to do is organize your day with lists. To do lists are an easy, duplicatable habit that will serve managing your thoughts like nothing else!
I use my phone because it’s always on me so I can edit my lists at will. But you can use a planner or a simple notebook.
The mind marvels at the idea of mentally crossing off a task that was otherwise nagging incessantly.
Just this past weekend I cleaned my kitchen. My kitchen is a week’s cleaning affair. It’s white and the cabinets are quite tall so I use a ladder to get to the top.
Finishing my fall general kitchen cleaning felt like I ran a marathon. I was exhausted, exhilarated, but boy oh boy it felt good!
Believe me organizing your day with lists can be the trick to settling those thoughts.
Establish an Outlet To Relieve Stress
Sometimes being busy needs to take a back seat. We can only do so much in 24 hours and making yourself a priority should be paramount.
How do you let go and let out your stress and anxiety?
If you don’t have an outlet, I’d suggest you look into something that will relieve that tension.
What makes you happy? Is it a night out? Hanging with your girlfriends? Yoga? A nature walk?
Make a list of five to ten activities that bring you joy, choose a few, practice them and determine which best relieve stress and settle your mind.
And please establish a habit of doing this activity. Consistency compounded will bring you results.
If you start and stop a habit, you’ll get easily discouraged. Often we blame the activity and not the fact that we gave up too soon. So stay committed and schedule this activity in your calendar if that helps to keep you on track.
I personally go for a walk almost every evening. I’ve had to make some sacrifices to make it happen, but the rewards are bountiful.
Because going for a walk is a habit, I hardly think of it. I just get up, get dressed and head out when the time comes. This didn’t happen overnight mind you. I started walking years ago.
The outlet you choose will end up being a life altering habit that serves you and not the other way around.
I hope these tips have helped you in gaining perspective on how you too can manage your thoughts. It is an attainable goal and I believe in you!
Please share in the comment section which activity and/or tip(s) you’ve settled on and how often you’ll commit to doing it.
Reach out to me when you’ve consistently done this for thirty days. I’d love to hear about your progress.
