{"id":2750,"date":"2014-03-28T02:12:44","date_gmt":"2014-03-28T06:12:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theyogimovement.com\/?p=2750"},"modified":"2016-10-21T00:00:01","modified_gmt":"2016-10-21T04:00:01","slug":"11-ways-to-calm-the-mind-unwind","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theyogimovement.com\/11-ways-to-calm-the-mind-unwind\/","title":{"rendered":"11 Ways To Calm The Mind & Unwind"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today’s post of a few ways to calm the mind for the busy people out there…<\/span><\/p>\n

I find that the majority of people have incredibly busy lives, and I can relate. It’s been a struggle for me to balance my full time 9-5 job, being a full time blogger, a yoga teacher, and fitting in my yoga practice in the mornings! When do I get time to myself? <\/span><\/p>\n

When I get home from work all I want to do is work on the blog, but I get overwhelmed with the million things I have to do. Answering emails, setting up banners, writing posts, keeping up on social media, and all of the other fun stuff that comes along with being a blogger. It’s easy for me to get overwhelmed and stressed if I don’t take the proper time to unwind. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you have a full schedule like me, then hopefully this list I put together will help you out. These are all of the ways that help me to unwind…..<\/span><\/p>\n

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1. Unplug:<\/strong> Getting caught up on the internet, listening to music, reading a book, or watching television can continue to stimulate the mind. Try to take at least 10 minutes to lay down with your eyes closed and appreciate the silence. If you fall asleep, good, you needed it! If you don’t have time to take a long nap, then just take a 10 minute power nap. Set your alarm for 10 minutes and snooze. You’ll wake up totally refreshed!<\/p>\n

2. Take a hot bath:<\/strong> Make sure you totally set the mood. I love to burn incense<\/a> and use essential oils<\/a> like lavender, sage, or sandalwood. Lighting a candle is really nice too with some soothing music. I get my oils from Mountain Rose Herbs. Click the photo to check out their selection:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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3. Take a hot shower:<\/strong> If you’re not in the mood for a bath, I think a hot shower can be really nice too. Take an extra long hot shower, and let the water beat down on your neck and shoulders.  Take your time and enjoy the feeling of the hot water working out all of those knots! <\/p>\n

4. Clean & Organize:<\/strong> It’s easy for the home to become disorganized when your life is so busy, but there is nothing more overwhelming than coming home to a cluttered home. One mantra I live by is: When something is causing you stress or anxiety, eliminate it!<\/em>  When my home is a mess, that causes me to be anxious. To really get in a cleaning mode I usually turn on an audio book<\/a>, put on some tea, and knock out the dishes, clean the counters, and organize the papers. I do this whenever I have a big annoying cleaning job like folding laundry, sweeping and mopping the floors, etc. I tend to get distracted when I clean, so putting on the audio book is kind of like a meditation for me. It keeps my mind focused while I get the job done. <\/p>\n

5. Take a walk:<\/strong> This is probably one of the best activities for unwinding. Whenever I have been staring at the computer screen too long at work, I love to step outside and just take a quick walk. Take that time to really appreciate the fresh air and the nature. I love to just stare at how the squirrels play, or the lizards chase each other. It really brings me peace to just observe my surroundings. Walking is also good for stimulating digestion, so it’s best to take a walk right after you eat.<\/p>\n

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6. Window Shop:<\/strong> Take the time to go to a local mall and walk around. Go into your favorite stores and try on some clothes. Go into the apple store and check out the latest electronics. Take some time to get your mind off of work, and let yourself to do the things you love. Don’t rack up the credit cards, but maybe buying a little gift for yourself wouldn’t hurt.<\/p>\n

7. Drink tea while reading an inspiring, motivational, or spiritual text:<\/strong>  I love to make some tea and open The Yoga Sutras<\/a> to a random page and let that sutra be my guide. The Yoga Sutras is a great text to help you understand the crazy inner workings of the mind so that you can learn how to observe and calm the mind.   <\/p>\n

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Click on the photos to learn more about the teas I mention:<\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n

8. Breathe: <\/strong>Meditating<\/a> can be intimidating to a lot of people. What a fast paced society we live in that we have so much trouble quieting our minds! This can be helpful for just 5 minutes a day. If you can find just five minutes to sit and focus on your breath, I promise you’ll experience so much change in the calmness of your mind. <\/p>\n