Rest Series (3/8): Mental Rest

Oh, mental rest! Mental rest is such an important thing and it is not really all that talked about. Ever notice yourself feeling forgetful or maybe your mind is racing all the time? Or maybe you have stared at the same page in a book for what feels like forever or you have to keep reading it over and over because you just cannot comprehend anything?

Or you might be like me and at the end of the day you try and watch a movie but your brain doesn’t take any of it in. You might actually have to re-watch it to know what happened. Yep, true story and it happens all the time.

If you have, your brain might need mental rest.

I know mine did and frequently does. During this time, I gave myself mental rest from the news, social media, and I started putting down my phone more. I even had one entire week where I turned my phone off, granted I was on vacation but it sure was needed.

As a therapist and person living in this world, my brain takes in so much information. Sometimes it begins to not function properly, think not remembering movies, which makes sense.

We all have a lot of things wanting our attention. Taking mini mental rest breaks during the day could be the thing you need.

Mental rest could look like this:

-     Putting down your phone for five or so minutes a few times throughout the day. Or turning off your screen once a day for a few minutes.

-       Listen to calming music.

-       Not listening to anything while commuting or driving someplace. (This is my favorite).

-       Scheduling breaks throughout the day where you step away from your computer, work, or phone and look outside or actually step outside if possible.

-       Spending time leisurely walking in nature with no devices.

-       Going to the botanical garden and sitting near the rose bushes.

-       Engaging in a grounding activity. A simple one is to feel your feet on the floor.

Pick one thing and see if you can stay consistent with it for a period of time and notice if it changes anything mentally. Let me know how it goes and what you picked.

If you are an individual in need of therapy or counseling reach out today.

Therapy with the right therapist can make a difference. If that’s not me, I can provide referrals to help you on your treatment journey. Text or call 385-240-0689 or email kristi@illuminetherapy.com.