Can’t seem to rest whether it’s day or night?  Are deadlines and stress causing anxiety? Here are three helpful steps to calm your mind.

Consider this: the times we can’t sleep or rest are the times we are excited about something good, upset, have deadlines that cause anxiety, etc. The extreme motions power our brain and energy to act and react.

There are times when we need to use these tools to save lives, including our own, to meet a deadline, to fulfill a requirement.

Our jobs, school, and/or family are usually the fuel. In order to put food on the table, these are things we can’t change.

But we can change the fast-paced thoughts that find a loop in our brain and replay over and over after, say, watching a March Madness Game, reading an intense book, arguing with someone, etc.

BUT…

Perhaps there is a calm for a short time for all the situations. Enough to reset, slow the flow of energy enough to rest.

Even ten minutes will help.

1. Change the subject from the deadline or stress causing anxiety.

At this moment, hashing out the issue in your mind is not going to change the situation. Maybe it will tomorrow or later today, but not at this moment. Changing the subject will put a jarring halt to the restless issue. If possible, go to a different setting.

Sing a fun song (I do this in my head-or shout it out if I’m alone)

Recite movie lines, a poem, a Bible verse, a story.

Recall a favorite vacation or walk through your dream vacation.

Stand outside-let the wind blow your hair, listen to the sounds, watch a bird fly.

2. Consciously repeat the new subject.

If you are imagining a lake, mountain, a field, song, a funny story a friend or family member told you, etc., use the details when the restless issue pokes its head back into your mind. What does the water look like? What flowers and animals are in the field? Is the sky cloudy, clear? Is the moon bright? Intentionally think of the details to keep your mind focused on the restful place. Picture the smile on the person’s face who told the story.

3. Take deep breaths. Disolve the need to focus on the deadline or stress causing anxiety

and rest. Slow. In. Out.

Maybe you only have ten minutes to rest. Maybe two weeks.

Either way, any rest will have an amazing result,

helping you to sleep and/or

prepare you to return to your responsibilities.

Here is the benefit to ridding stressful thoughts:

Our bodies and minds need rest. If we don’t allow rest, our body will find its own way to solve the problem, usually through illness.