Immy details the ways she clears her head and how you can too!
Clearing your head is like giving your brain a reboot when you’re feeling stuck or stressed. It’s important to tidy up this backlog in our working memory, to create a fresh mental workspace. Especially when considering the busy lifestyles many of us have, we could all benefit from unburdening a bit and taking some time out. Freeing up this headspace can help us to start each day with new ideas and a fresh mindset, to really help us improve.
Some people accomplish this by exercising at the start of the day. I really enjoy riding my horse Jango before I come to work in the mornings. In these moments, I’m not thinking about anything else. I’m just thinking about where I’m going with Jango and what we need to do next. I’m present in the moment, rather than worrying about the day ahead. Sometimes, when I’m going through a bit of a mental block, being outdoors and doing exercise helps the solutions come to me. All my best ideas are generated when I’m riding Jango! I find that other people are doing their own versions of this, as I regularly see people running, cycling and walking their dogs in the early hours of the day.
Another great way I clear my head is by talking through problems with others. This helps me to not be so stuck in my own head and to look at a solution with a fresh pair of eyes. I also like to write things down. This way I can physically get it out of my mind onto a piece of paper, so I’m not worried about forgetting something. I’ve found this really works when I’m making a phone call. I write down all the key points I need to say, to ensure it doesn’t get jumbled up and backlogged in my brain, clearing my thoughts to focus in the moment of the conversation.
One of my other favourite ways to achieve a bit of mental calmness is to get to crafting! If I’m feeling stressed or need to wind down, I love to sit and paint or knit. Focusing on the detail of the craft forces my brain to focus on something different, opening up the space for fresh ideas.
I find there to be so many benefits to taking the time to clear my head:
- I can truly approach the day ahead from a better perspective
- I feel much calmer, rather than stuck in a place of stress
- I can relax and sleep better
- I get the inspiration to create new, ‘random’ ideas
I try to take the time to notice when I’m feeling overwhelmed and acknowledge that I need to clear my head. Sometimes I just need to step away for two minutes, to think about something else and come back to it. It’s all about just having a few moments to yourself, with no distractions or screens, helping you refocus on what’s important to you.
How could you declutter your brain?