Over the last couple of months, we have talked about the importance of good mental self-care.
When we take care of ourselves mentally, we begin to increase our mental toughness which, in turn, helps us cope with the demands of life.
When we are able to mentally unplug (i.e. take a nap, read a book, go for a walk, meditate, etc.), it gives our brains and our minds the “downtime” in order to function properly. Dr. Caroline Leaf suggests that, “In order to cope with the demands of life, our brains and minds need to internally reboot which can only happen when we are alone with our thoughts.” This is what she calls “Thinking Time.”
From a practical standpoint, Thinking Time looks like carving out at least 30 minutes a day in your busy schedule for an activity that mentally rejuvenates you. We do this by switching off all external stimuli and give our thoughts some quality “me” time.
Unplugging on a daily basis and ceasing our negative thought patterns decreases cortisol – the stress hormone our adrenal glands release when we feel triggered, anxious or stressed. In other words, when you make negative statements you release negative chemicals. The good news is that the opposite is also true. When we think positively and redirect our negative thoughts we release the good chemicals (dopamine and serotonin) into our bodies.
When we put a positive spin on the honest reality of what we are feeling in the now, it helps us to redesign our minds and our futures.
Find 30 minutes today for Thinking Time. Even better, physically block out that time on your calendar each day so you can make a conscious decision to do it until it just becomes a habit.
