Your mind lives in a state of distraction. It’s normal if pausing feels uncomfortable. It might feel impossible to feel calm, focused, or peaceful. And yet, those feelings are more available to you then you may realize.

It is possible to listen to your inner wisdom.

Let’s take a hot second and dive into why it’s super good (healthy even) for you to find moments of quiet.

Your brain is constantly processing information.

All of your experiences are stored in your subconscious. Your subconscious is what helps you function on autopilot, like when you drive to work, the grocery store, or do tasks like brush your teeth. Those are things you’ve done so often that you don’t need to think consciously to make them happen. Which is good because that gives your conscious brain time to rest.

But when your mind is constantly processing things, like re-hashing conversations, editing and re-editing email replies in your head, or worrying about everything that needs to be done, your brain gets taxed.

That means the more you dwell on things, the more tired your brain gets, and the more tired your brain gets the more you tend to dwell. It can be a vicious cycle and yet you don’t have to be stuck there. I promise there is a way to break the cycle, it just takes a bit of patience with yourself.

When you create moments of stillness you create space to feel calm, focused, and peaceful (and I do mean moments, just 5 minutes can make a meaningful impact), .

I like to call it brain-defrag. Just like your computer needs upkeep (defragging) to reorganize everything stored in it so it can function optimally, your brain needs that too.

I first discovered that my mind could be quiet when I took yoga back in 1999.

That first class changed my perspective of how I connect with my body. Before yoga my body felt more like the meat-sack that carried me through life. After yoga I realized that my body has important information to share with me, and when I can pause and find a moment of stillness, I can hear my own wisdom.

You might not believe me at first.

You can easily add tiny moments of defrag to give your brain the ability to process and function optimally.

Overtime that will break your dwelling cycle.

Here are a few easy ways that I love to defrag, and I bet at least one of these is possible for you to do too.

Lying down:
1. When your mind feels full of thoughts or you feel extra tired try this one
2. Set a five minute timer on your phone
3. Lie down on your right side on a bed or couch
4. Close your eyes
5. Give yourself permission to lie here until the timer goes off
Sitting at your computer:
1. When you feel fatigue in your eyes or shoulders this is a great one to do!
2. Set a five minute timer on your phone
3. Sit up tall in your chair
4. Rest your hands on your legs
5. Close your eyes
6. Breathe in and out, it can help to say inside your head “inhale” “exhale” as you breathe
In your car:
1. This is great to do during your lunch break or just before you drive home
2. Set a five minute timer on your phone
3. Recline your driver’s seat in your car
4. Crack the windows if it’s warm
5. Set a five minute timer on your phone
6. Close your eyes
7. Rest your hands on your legs
8. Breathe in and out, it can help to say inside your head “inhale” “exhale” as you breathe

Which one of those feels most possible for you?

Try that one on.

Taking these 5 minutes brain breaks can make the difference between feeling overwhelmed and feeling like you can make it successfully through your day.

Since I work from home, I most often do the lying down defrag. It was really hard for me in the beginning, especially if my mind felt busy. I had to force myself to stay there and over time it felt easier and easier.

I no longer set a timer and I usually lie down for 10-15 minutes.

It’s a fascinating experience because now I can feel my muscles relaxing, my bones shifting back into place (subtly), and I usually get my best writing inspirations in those moments.

On the days that I feel “too busy” and I push through without taking one of these breaks, those are the days that I feel totally burnt out by the end of the day.

When you give your brain and time to rest you can gain important insights, find clarity, and feel peaceful in your body.

What helps you reset your mind?

Never miss a blog post, get the weekly email and the FREE Thoughtful Journaling Guide here.

Kerstin Phillips is a Yoga & Life Coach, E-RYT 200 living in Berkeley, California with her daughter, husband, and kitty, Pesto.

She loves to journal, read, do all things yoga, and hike in Tilden.

Kerstin guides women and non-binary folx out from the shadows so they can embrace their true selves, feel confident in their decisions, and define their purpose, because everyone is valuable and no one deserves to be overlooked.

How to Listen to Your Inner Wisdom