Nobody knows for sure where the human mind is located and how it looks like. Most of us would like to believe it is the heart which does the task of the mind too. Some others would like to believe that it is the brain which acts as the mind. Since our thoughts originate from our brain, it is quite logical to agree with that.
Be it in the heart or in the brain, one common characteristic of the human mind is that it is constantly wavering. It is like a drunken monkey. A drunken monkey jumps from one tree branch to another aimlessly, often haphazardly and for no reason. Like the monkey, our thoughts also keep hopping from branch to branch.
Studies cite that a human mind has about “60,000 to 80,000” thoughts in a day.
There is so much mental chatter happening in our brains, that it drains our attention span to a bare minimum. Gadgets, Internet, social networks, etc. have turned us into zombies who drift on without a direction.
For working professionals, students, or for anyone this is a serious issue. Imagine the damage that could be caused if a doctor misses his/her attention for few seconds during a surgery? Or a military personnel who skips attention during the mission briefing?
There is a pressing need to tame our monkey minds so that we can focus on our tasks with undivided attention.
If you have been struggling to chain that monkey mind of yours, here are some expert-suggested ways to do it.
Meditation is not just for Buddhist monks. Anyone with the will and interest can do it. In fact, Mingyur Rinpoche - a Tibetan Buddhist monk says that you can meditate anywhere. You can meditate when you are walking, while sipping a cup of coffee or when sitting in an idle position.
The key to meditation is breathing. Most people are ignorant of the basic thing about meditation. It just sitting in silence and observing your breathing. The simplest way to meditate is to sit in silence, breathe in, breathe out, slowly. Repeat this for ten to fifteen minds to experience a blanket of relief and calmness envelope you.
The Pomodoro Technique is basically a time management technique. Most of our distractions occur because we let ourselves wander through many tasks at the same time. The Pomodoro Technique can cut through distractions by keeping you hooked to one task at a time.
According to the technique, you break down a big task into smaller chunks with equal intervals in between. For instance, you focus on doing a task continuously for 15 minutes and then you take a break for 5 minutes. During those 15 minutes focus on the task with a sniper-focus. Snooze your notifications, disconnect the Internet if needed and shut yourself out of the world. It is just you and the task. That would chain your monkey mind to a corner making it get used to controlling.
Again the one-touch rule is to keep you chained to one task at a time. But, what task do you focus on when you are into simultaneously. Multi-tasking does not come to all easily. That’s where the one touch rule can help you.
The rule says, once you touch something, that starts a work, don’t drop it until it is done. Sounds difficult? It is difficult. So the next time you will watch your thoughts and be more decisive if it is a task that you want to work on immediately.
Do you know which branch our monkey minds hops onto most of the times? Negativity. Negativity can push us down into a spiral of traumatic thoughts that can even lead to depression. Luckily, there is a way to ensure that the negativity smoke is cleared of your mind.
Wear a negativity rubber mind on your wrist. Each time you come across catching a negative thought, snap the rubber band. Be warned that it would hurt a bit. But, that is the whole point after all. The mild pain would force you to quit the habit of negative thinking. Your overall mental health would get a positive boost.
Writing is thinking on paper. It has a therapeutic feel to it. Writing will help you pour all your worries, doubts and ideas in writing. When written, they take a shape and form with which you can chart your next action plan.
The good news is, you don’t need to have a degree in English to be a writer. If you want to write, just write. Write a sentence, then add one more to it. Then some more to it. Let your words flow freely and soon you will see your thoughts presented on paper.
There is no shame in asking for help. In fact, studies have proven that great leaders seek help from people who are better at the topic than them. If you feel your mental health issues run deeper than feeling distracted, it is better to ask for expert counsel.
Trauma and depression can get into anyone. More the chance for someone who has experienced hardships in early childhood or teen years. If you have had a rough childhood, take the first step to ask for help from mental health experts TMS Health Solutions who can put you in the right way. If you are located near El Dorado Hills, help is within quick reach.
Carpe diem means to seize the day. It won’t return ever. You get only chance to live. But, if you do it well, once is enough. The best way to do it is by living in the present. Don’t be bogged down the fear of the future and the trauma of the present. Be in the now, and your life will feel a lot pleasant.
Megha Parikh is a digital marketing expert and has been journeying through the world of digital marketing for more than 7 years. She especially enjoys learning about social media marketing and conversion rate optimization while exploring her social and interpersonal skills.