Four Easy Activities to Help Clear Your Mind

Sometimes life can seem a little frantic – it happens to all of us. The next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a deep breath and step back from whatever is causing the chaos. There are countless activities for adults that can help clear the mind. Here are four favorites to consider when you’re craving calm. 

Go Explore

Instead of sitting on the couch, consumed by your own thoughts, try lacing up your sneakers and heading outside. Research indicates that taking a nature walk can help put things in perspective and reduce the tendency to be hard on yourself and others. Breaking up patterned thinking may also be beneficial to boosting your memory and reducing anxiety. When you get stuck in a routine, it can be easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. Sunshine and singing birds have a way of tuning you back in. 

Find Your Calm

Some people realize tremendous mind-body benefits from practicing meditation, but it’s not for everyone. Many people have a hard time silencing their thoughts while trying to focus. Adding movement to meditation can help, and Tai Chi is a wonderful way to find peace without having to sit still. Using gentle, flowing movements, Tai Chi is like meditation in motion. It’s easy on the joints, too. You’ll find instructional videos on YouTube, and many community education programs offer Tai Chi classes to help you get started. You can also learn more about practicing Tai Chi here.

Get Organized

Clutter causes anxiety for most people, and it can be tough to focus when you’re surrounded by stuff. Luckily, cleaning really can be therapeutic! Performing mundane tasks lets your mind concentrate on what you’re currently doing, which brings you into the present moment. The hardest part is getting started! To avoid being overwhelmed, take it one step at a time, and go room by room. When your home is neat and tidy, you’ll enjoy how great it feels to be in an open, organized space, with everything in its proper place.

Next time your mind is feeling a little crowded, try clearing some space with these or one of your own favorite de-cluttering methods. Share what works for you!

Be an Artist

When you focus on a creative activity, it can allow other parts of your brain to relax and de-stress. Some people get a creative release by building things like boats or birdhouses. For those with artistic talents, sketching or painting with watercolors can be very satisfying. For the rest of us who need a little more direction, coloring books are a great alternative! Coloring books have made a huge comeback, and you can find them everywhere – at your local bookstore, drug store – even in grocery store checkout lanes. Publishers are creating coloring books for all ages, for men and women alike, and with different themes like birds, plants and abstract designs that are fun and easy to complete. Other than trying to stay in the lines, there are no rules, and you can let your imagination run free, combining the colors and textures that you find most pleasing to make something truly original. Coloring is also a great activity to enjoy with grandchildren. Coloring a page (like the one below) then hanging it on the refrigerator with your grandkids’ masterpieces can help clear your mind and is sure to bring a smile each time you’re in the kitchen!