Kay's Obsessions

If you are like me, you might have a hard time keeping a clear head. Us over-thinkers have it rough sometimes don’t we? For me, it feels like my head is constantly buzzing with thoughts. My brain doesn’t shut off. Even when I sleep. There’s this constant whirring of to-do lists and people to respond to and schedules and bla-bla-bla. You get it right? It can be exhausting. And that can take a toll after a while. Unfortunately, it’s really hard to clear the noise a lot of the time. But over the years, I’ve found some things that help more than others. To quiet my head and my raging thoughts. To allow me some room to just be and breathe.

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1. First, the best thing I’ve found to do is working out. Movement of any kind helps quiet my brain. Recently, in the last few weeks, I have become a daily gym goer. And I can’t tell you how much good that has done for me. Truly. Going for an hour or so every day and getting moving allows me that hour to not think. When I’m running I don’t think. I listen to my playlist of my favorite country songs (mostly consisting of Dylan Marlowe), and I just run. Instead of focusing on the tasks for the day or the random whatevers that my brain finds important, all I am focusing on is the burning in my legs and remembering to breathe. Using weights also helps me. I think it’s the counting. The counting of reps, and breaths, and deciding what to do next. There is a certain calmness to it all. Just using my body instead of my brain for a little while.
2. Another thing that has really helped me over the last five or so years, has been yoga and meditation. I’ve started to incorporate more yoga into my daily workouts as well, a two in one sort of deal. Again, it’s the movement of the body and just focusing on being right where you are. Meditation can also help as well, although I found it more challenging because my brain would distract me too much when I was sitting still. But yoga is more focused on the stretching and how your body feels, not particularly making the brain go quiet. Which is something that I always had a hard time understanding, how to just make my brain go quiet. So you will have to let me know if y’all can do that. But one hundred percent the yoga time works. It also helps with sleep!
3. A third idea, is to go outside. Go for a hike or a walk. Listen to some music maybe. The fresh air is the key here. Being outside with the scenery and the breeze and the sun. It always makes me feel so much calmer and more at peace after going for a walk or a hike. Not only is it good for your body like working out, but I think it is good for your soul. To be in nature. Near where I live, there are a lot of nature preserves and walking trails which is awesome. But if you do not have access to those areas walking in your neighborhood will also work. I personally like to listen to music if I am walking in a suburban area just to drown out the vehicle noise and such.
4. And finally, reading. Maybe this is just me, but I have noticed that when I sit down and get cozy with a book, my head clears. I am focused solely on the story and the characters and the flipping of the pages. All other thoughts fall away when it’s just me and my book.

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From one crazy brained girlie to yourself, I just want to say that I know it’s hard. It’s a hard thing to intentionally sit down and attempt to quiet and tame the wild in your head. But I know and understand what it feels like to have an overwhelmed head all day and every day. And I know first hand how it effects your work, your school, your relationships, whatever it is. But hear me when I say, it can be tamed. After implementing my daily gym sessions, I noticed that my head is clearer and I feel less stressed after working my body. And, I even got excited about the exercises I am discovering online and trying out. I even have physical goals to work towards as a result. (You might see some workout posts coming soon). So give it a try. See what works for you and find your calm. When you can get your brain happy and under control, everything else will be so much more enjoyable.