Has this ever happened to you? You leave your house, get in your car and drive to your destination, but once you arrive, you have no memory of the drive over there?
If you deal with anxiety or live a hectic lifestyle, chances are you’re no stranger to all consuming, racing thoughts. Either anxiety sends you into a whirlwind worry agonizing over details about what may or may not happen or your schedule and to-do list are so full that find it nearly impossible to focus on one task at a time. Before you know it, your energy is drained, you can’t concentrate, your irritated and walking around in a haze. The common factor in this instances is fear.
Typically we are either afraid of the outcome, afraid of change, afraid to take the next step, afraid of how others will react, or even afraid we are going to forget to do something with disastrous consequences. Sound familiar?
What should you do when your thoughts start racing? The good news is that you are smart, probably much smarter than you think. You have the ability to calm your thoughts.
Here are 7 ways you can calm your racing thoughts:
- Stop what you’re doing. Take a break. Stop fiddling, pacing, typing, etc. Close your eyes and imagine yourself at your favorite place in the world, even if that place is completely made up. For example, my favorite place is almost always at the beach, but always has some form of water and sunshine. I imagine the sun shining over my entire body while I listen to the water moving. It’s so peaceful! Give yourself at least 10 minutes to do this because it’s going to take some time for your mind to adjust from the busyness to the peacefulness.
- Disconnect from technology. Turn your phone off, put away the iPad, and walk away from the computer. There have been studies on the links between social media, being constantly connected, and anxiety. In my humble opinion, if being disconnected causes you to feel more stressed, then you really need to consider your relationship with technology and the unbalance you feel.
- Breathe. Your breath is a life force that you can control. While our interior systems operate mostly on involuntary autonomous functions, you can alter your breath and therefore, be instantly connected to your life. Try closing your eyes and breathing in for four counts and breathing out for four counts. With each inhale, imagine positive energy entering your body from head to toe as the brightest, most beautiful light you’ve ever seen. With each exhale, imagine negative energy, worry, fear, etc. being released into the universe. Let God catch it and handle it for you.
- Connect with nature. Everything in nature seems to exist so simply. It just is. When you think about it, humans make things complicated as we rush from one thing to the next. Go outside and observe. Take pictures, draw, write about it, or just think about it. It’s amazing what you’ll notice when you pause to see what’s in front of you. For example, this may sound a little hokey, but hey it works for me. Go for a walk and stop when you see a tree that intrigues you. Observe its shape, the leaves, the branches, the birds, the bugs, the crevices in the trunk, etc. Nature is so amazing because no matter what goes on in our lives, it continues to exist without worry. It is always connected to the universe and to God. I find that when I connect with that, suddenly the things that are worrying me don’t seem so big or insurmountable. After all, the trees, the grass, the ocean, etc. just go with the flow of its life existing on instinct and the circle of life.
- Move it! When anxiety and racing thoughts have you ready to run, sometimes that’s the best remedy. Exercise can help you release adrenaline and calm your mind. When you focus on the movement, you are moving the energy from racing thoughts to your body’s attention on doing the exercise. You’ll have to find what will work best for you. Whether that’s yoga, going on a walk, jogging, aerobic classes, weight lifting, or any other activity, physical release can go a long way in relieving your mind.
- Write. One of my favorite ways to let go of fear is to write a letter to the very thing that I fear. I also do this when I’m really angry with someone or about something. I channel the negativity onto the paper. I prefer to hand write because I feel more connected to the words that are going from my brain to my fingers to the pencil and onto the paper. Simply start your letter by writing, I’m angry at you because… I’m worried because… I’m afraid because… You can write out anything that you want. This acknowledges how you’re feeling and it allows you to explore it in more detail. I then spend time writing in the same letter about why I forgive that very same thing. I’ve figured out the root of a lot of negative feelings this way. It’s amazing.
- Spend time with friends. They say laughter is the best medicine and while it may not solve what’s bothering you, it certainly will lift your energetic vibrations and your mood. This is helpful because positivity attracts positivity. There’s no better way to accomplish this than to spend time with friends. Give yourself permission to spontaneously have lunch with someone or meet up for dinner. Allow yourself to have a release through connecting with the people you love. Go ahead and have fun.
When you take the time to clear your mind and settle your nerves, you’ll be much better equipped to help yourself solve a particular problem, navigate your day-to-day life, and deal with unfortunate events. However, don’t dismiss your feelings by pretending they don’t exist. If you’re having trouble solving something on your own, I encourage you to seek the help of a therapist or life coach to support you in working through issues. I’ve done both and it’s helped me tremendously. In between sessions, you can use your tools to relax, focus, and enjoy life.