7 Simple Ways To Detox The Mind And Soul

You know that feeling you get when you’re surrounded by people, and it’s just too much? It’s stressful, overwhelming, disappointing. Everyone is talking; everyone is being loud. You wish you could just getaway, but more likely than not, you’re stuck in the middle of it all.

You forget your own needs (and sometimes even other people’s), your thoughts are racing, and you’re becoming impatient, irritated, tired. You can’t focus on anything properly, and nothing seems to bring any relief from the chaos.

It’s time to detox your mind! Escape from reality for a short while and detox from those never-ending thoughts that are feeding this negativity.

We’ve all been there. It’s happened to me before, and I can’t stress enough that it’s time to drive those thoughts out of your head.

You might not be able just to get away immediately, but you can start to prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for that next time. And there is always the next time (if not now, then later) because reality isn’t going anywhere. And neither are we.

So start to focus on yourself (yes, you’re important too!) and follow these 7 steps for your next mental detox session.

1. Take a Break from Technology

Sometimes, when I feel stressed out, I just don’t want to deal with any of the craziness outside, and I just want to hide inside my bed under the covers and cry myself to sleep. However, this is the weakest I can be, and I know that. So instead, I get up, walk outside, and do something to distract myself from it all. Take a walk around the block or just stroll through a nearby park.

I’ve started to reach for my headphones when I get anxious because music has always been my way to relax. You can also listen to your favorite podcast or audiobook if it helps you calm down and focus on something else.

2. Pay attention to the present moment

Don’t try to think too much about all the things that have happened because they’ve happened, and you can’t change them. Instead, focus on what’s going on right now. When you’re in a situation that gives you stress or anxiety, try to find something good in it and repeat it over and over again. Find something nice about the situation instead of focusing on your thoughts about something that has already happened and can’t be changed (so stop thinking!).

3. Let Your Imagination Run WILD

I’m a very visual person. If I can’t see something, I have difficulty believing it’s real. This is great when I’m reading a book because words are only words, but not so great when it comes to stress and anxiety (and everything else, for that matter).

Visualizing my ideal world calms me down. It allows me to imagine myself in the future doing what I want to do and feeling happy about my life. I imagine that I’m in my ideal home, surrounded by family and loved ones, eating a delicious meal.

4. Breathe Deeply

When you think about it, deep breathing is one of those things we do on the regular without even thinking about it. When you’re stressed or anxious, deep breathing is the first thing you should do to relax and focus your mind so that you can think once again. You can start with an inhale and then a long exhale.

When you’re deep breathing, it not only helps you breathe more straightforward, but it can slow your heart rate too. So that’s a double-win!

5. Kick Your Inner Critic to the Curb

I have a little internal critic that likes to run my life on repeat, and I know this because when I’m stressed out, she just keeps talking to me, and I don’t listen to her because she’s aware of my emotions and needs; at that very moment…

So how do you stop her? Simple! When this little voice in your head starts nagging you about something, tell it to shut up. No, it’s not that easy, and she doesn’t always listen to me either. But I guess we all have our way of reacting to stress and anxiety.

6. Relax and Listen to Your Body

Listening to your body is one of the best ways to calm down when you’re stressed out. During an actual physical fight-or-flight response, your body needs to do anything it can to protect you from danger.

Even when the danger is not immediate, you can still get stressed out because of your emotions and personal thoughts. And in general, it’s better to do this before you’re in danger than after.

In addition to listening to your body, you should also give it some time and space to rest while you relax and focus on yourself.

7. Think Back on the Good Times

During the past, there might be moments that you enjoyed and that made you smile. Think of one of those moments and relive it in your mind’s eye while taking deep breaths. This can help you focus more and think of something positive that happened to cheer you up.

Now You’re Relaxed, So What?

Just because you managed to escape for a little while, your feelings don’t mean that you’re now immune to stress or anxiety. You might be able to escape for a short time, but you can never escape for too long. If you’re stressed out, understand that it’s essential to take action and make changes.

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Previously Published on medium

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