At any given moment, most people have about a dozen thoughts clambering for your attention. From an early age, we learn to prioritize each idea and reflection so as not to become overwhelmed by our thoughts. However, it’s not always that easy.
When you experience stress and other powerful emotions, it becomes nearly impossible to keep your thoughts in check. Negative thinking does nothing to help you solve your problems. The answer is learning how to clear your head.
3 Tips for How to Clear Your Head
If you’re at the mercy of every thought, you may be desperate to learn “how to clear my mind.” It can be a difficult process, but this much-needed mental break will help you take control. That’s why clearing your head of unwanted thoughts is an important skill to master.
Here are some mind-clearing strategies to get you started:
1. Express Your Thoughts Through Writing
Writing allows you to address your thoughts and feelings and brainstorm potential solutions. Give yourself 20 minutes to get it all out, but beware of co-rumination. This involves continually revisiting your problems, exacerbating the negative feelings associated with these thoughts.
2. Focus on Friendship
Focusing on your positive relationships is a healthy coping technique. With strong friendships in your life, you’ll have less time and energy to give to negative thoughts that may try to creep in. You’ll also have a compassionate sounding board who can help you process your feelings.
3. Practice Mindfulness or Meditation
Mindfulness is an act of your will where you give all your attention to the present moment. So, whether you’re doing chores, driving your car, or cooking dinner, you allow yourself to become fully immersed in the activity. Mindfulness leaves no room for stray thoughts.
The term “mindfulness” is often linked to meditation, as this practice has a similar goal. When you meditate, you take a moment to sit and relax, letting go of all negative thoughts and emotions. If ideas or feelings pop into your head, you observe them without any judgment or emotion, then let them go.
Mindfulness and meditation are two excellent methods to live in the present, so you don’t dwell on anxiety or stress from your past or future.
The Importance of Clearing Your Mind During Your Recovery Journey
Recovery is an incredible gift that allows you to move forward into new hope and freedom. Yet, during this process, negativity can come creeping into your head like an unwanted invader. You may find that the same unwanted thoughts play over and over in your mind on an endless loop, and you don’t know how to press the stop button. Guilt about your past drug or alcohol abuse. Dread for an unknown future.
Replaying the same thoughts is called rumination. Getting caught in rumination is a dangerous cycle that can impact your Recovery. Learning how to master your thoughts can help protect your sobriety and offer much-needed benefits to your Recovery journey, including:
- Better sleep quality
- More effective downtime and relaxation
- Decreased stress and anxiety
- Greater focus
- Improved creativity and problem-solving as you gain perspective over your problems
- More time for friendships and other positive relationships
Gain Perspective at 7 Summit Pathways
No one says you have to conquer addiction on your own. At 7 Summit Pathways, our highly individualized addiction treatment programs focus on giving you a holistic approach to health and healing. As you conquer Substance Addiction’s hold over your life, our compassionate team will be by your side every step of the way. You’ll also learn much-needed coping strategies, such as gaining mastery over your mind.
If you would like to learn more, we invite you to contact us today. We are dedicated to giving you what works.