5 Ways To Clear Your Head & Think Better
I've got a fun, FREE tool for you today but first I just want to say: Happy New Year!
I've spent the past couple weeks taking a full break from work, cold-turkey style. (And, you know, eating turkey.)
As I move back into work mode, I'm thinking about how I can continue to bring these kinds of mental breaks into my regular life. Upon reflection, unstructured, free time has always been important to me.
Growing up, my twin sister and I were never all that interested in (or all that good at) organized activities.
My parents offered us the opportunity: I’m sure we experimented with the odd dance class, or karate lesson. But nothing really stuck.
Most of the time, we would rather be playing — say, making crafts, pretending, or coming up with our next ridiculous enterprise — then trying to follow along with group instruction.
Sometimes, I wish I had the skills that might have come with those lessons. As I awkwardly stumble through adult dance lessons, it would be nice to have the coordination and muscle memory that may have been established at an earlier age. And martial arts (like boxing and for a while, BJJ) have been so transformative over the past decade of my life that I think I really would have benefitted from sticking with those karate classes.
That said, I do not take for granted one second the value of that free, unstructured time.
In fact, it’s something that I think we ALL need more of. Especially thought leaders.
I truly believe that time spent thinking, reflecting, and imagining is one of the best possible uses of our time.
It’s how we come up with our best ideas and do meaningful work.
It’s how we prevent ourselves from living on a perpetual hamster wheel, running and running without really getting anywhere.
It’s how we make room for more joy and satisfaction because it allows us to live and work from a place of alignment – connected to what we really want and care about.
It’s how we engage with our most creative and innovative selves, how we can come up with new and fresh ideas and solutions to problems.
But I’ll be the first to acknowledge that finding this time is not always easy. Especially because even if you DO find it, you might feel guilty or indulgent for taking it. 🙋
With so many demands on your time, it can be easy to get sucked into the vortex of never stopping.
Fortunately, we can make it a practice. The more you give yourself this time, the more natural it feels.
If you want to clear your head and think better, here are some things to try.
Tip #1 Go for a walk
A walk does wonders to clear your head. I routinely find that it eases anxiety and confusion. If I’m wrestling with a problem or challenge, after a walk I almost always feel like I have things at least a little bit more figured out.
More on the benefits of walking here: camilledeputter.com/blog/walk
Tip # 2 Practice pausing your Pac Man brain
Back in 2018, I wrote about Pac Man brain — the constant desire or interest in new things, ideas, and opportunities. (Read the full story here: camilledeputter.com/blog/pacman)
Since writing that, I’ve gained about 5 years of experience in training my brain to stay focused when it needs to, and wandering when the time is right.
Here’s how I do it: when I am in “getting stuff done” mode, I aim to keep myself as focused as possible.
I make the task in front of me THE task; I set a clear priority or intention to put it at the forefront of my mind, and push everything else to the backburner.
Inevitably, my mind will wander or get off track. When that happens, I gently remind myself to return to the task at hand.
Kind of like, “Okay, that’s nice, but let’s come back to what’s most important NOW.”
Sometimes I even use a physical gesture for this, like swooshing my hand in front of my face, as a way to reset.
Then, I structure in time to let my mind wander and roam around — usually while taking a walk (see Tip #1.)
Tip #3 Put down your freakin’ phone
‘Nuff said.
If you want to read my whole rant on this, here it is: camilledeputter.com/blog/socialmedia
Tip #4 Build in 10-15 minutes of free-writing time, daily
A small, daily practice works wonders. Keep it doable, keep it simple, keep it up.
Want to give it a try? Check out this new, 30 Day Writing Challenge.
In this e-book you’ll find a daily writing prompt for thirty days, plus guidance on how to do it (and avoid falling off the wagon.)
--> Get your free copy of challenge e-book here: camilledeputter.com/30daychallengeoptin
Tip #5 Organize an occasional retreat or reset
Back in November, a good friend and I took two whole days together as a mini business retreat.
We both work for ourselves, and we were both looking for a way to work on our businesses without the pressure of day-to-day life.
Over those couple of days, we did a few activities to re-center and reflect. The retreat’s activities included some journaling and reflection. Some business planning and strategizing. Some writing and organizing. And there were a few celebratory cocktails (followed by an impromptu Backstreet Boys dance party in my living room.)
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1125"]
My cat, Iggy, also helped out. [/caption]
We went back to our busy lives a little more refreshed, centered, and prepared for the year ahead.
I won’t lie: taking two days away from work during a busy period felt awkward at first. If we hadn’t planned it — and established each other as accountability partners — it probably wouldn’t have happened.
But we made it work. And I’m so glad we did.
You can use a strategy like this for yourself at any point in the year. But January has just begun so this month might be ideal. ;)
What do you think,? What strategies work for you?
How will you support your brain (and your heart) to do all that awesome thinking you’re about to do this year? ;)
Write me back and let me know.
Wishing you an amazing, fulfilling, and rewarding year ahead.