Ever have one of those days where work is over, but your brain didn’t get the memo?
You’re home, but you’re still thinking about the conversation from three hours ago.
You’re trying to relax, but you’re running through tomorrow’s problems.
Or you’re lying in bed trying to solve something that absolutely does not need to be solved at 11:00 at night.
Sometimes we need a way to clear the mechanism.
Here are three different routes you can use to get out of your head and create some separation from the stresses of work and life.
1.) The Sensory Route
Change what your brain is taking in.
Put on music.
Take a hot shower.
Step outside and feel the cold air.
Turn the lights down.
Sit somewhere quiet.
Sometimes changing what you see, hear and feel is enough to interrupt the noise that’s been following you around all day.
2.) The Physical Route
Move.
Go for a walk.
Lift weights.
Run.
Stretch.
Clean the garage if that’s your thing.
Stress doesn’t always need to be thought through. Sometimes you need to physically work through some of that energy before your brain is ready to settle down.
3.) The Mindfulness Route
Give your mind somewhere specific to go.
Pray.
Take five minutes and breathe.
Write down what’s bothering you.
Journal.
Sit quietly without your phone.
The goal isn’t to pretend the stress isn’t there. It’s to stop letting it control every thought that comes next.
And here’s the important part:
There is no one way that works for everyone!
Some days I need to move.
Some days I need quiet.
Some days I need to pray and get some perspective.
Figure out what helps you clear the mechanism.
Because you can’t always control what gets thrown at you during the day.
But you can build better ways to keep it from following you everywhere you go.
