I don’t know about you, but I am a person who spends way too much time thinking. While it can be helpful and productive at times (i.e., when I’m helping a client in a therapy session), a lot of the time it turns into obsessive worrying and ruminating which leaves me feeling anxious, restless, and exhausted. When I get into what I call a state of the “thinky thinkies”, I find its best to consciously hang up my brain for the night (this phenomenon usually hits me at night when I need to be winding down, not up).
I found this saying on Twitter: “My mind is like a really bad neighbourhood at night. I try not to go there.” I laughed like crazy when I read this because I could totally relate to it. I find a lot of my clients have serious and regular bouts of the “thinky thinkies” and often need suggestions as to how they can turn off their overactive brains for a while and instead, focus on something calming and pleasurable.
For some, this means watching a funny movie or sitcom. For others, it might mean going to a yoga class or sitting down for a structured period of meditation. For me, it’s always the same: get my latest knitting project out and knitting until all of my worries dissolve, I get into the groove of whatever pattern I’m working on, and I eventually feel calm and peaceful.
Homework:
What activities help YOU get out of your head, leave you feeling relaxed, peaceful and positive? Make a list of the top 3 picks and practise one the next time you get attacked by the “thinky thinkies”…
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