Did you ever have one of those days or maybe weeks where you’d lose your skull if it weren’t attached? During that time, you are constantly apologizing for a brain that is not working right and chastising yourself for all the mistakes you seem to be making. Packed schedules, self-renewing work piles and coping with big change all contribute to feeling stressed and scattered. In the realm of mindfulness, there are variations of a practice where the idea is to effectively bring your nervous system back to a state of balance, giving you back your brain’s ability to access the frontal lobes, the areas of the brain that help us plan, see things objectively and remember how to prioritize wisely.
The steps are simple; you just have to be willing to give them your full attention. Start by closing your eyes and noticing your breath. Are you holding it? Are you only breathing with the tops of your lungs? Just by becoming aware of how you are breathing usually liberates the body to go for fuller breaths that engage the diaphragm to get more oxygen to the body and brain. Now notice your shoulders. Are they hunched up by your ears? Do they need to be stretched so they can relax down the back? Lastly notice the sensations in your feet. Personally I like to make sure they are both on the floor, which acts as a way of getting grounded again. Spend a few moments here—the longer you spend, the more your brain waves start to shift, along with its ability to pull from wisdom-infused objectivity, rather than stressed-out reactivity or impulse.
After making the connection with your breath and body ask yourself, what is the most desirable outcome for today? And see what bubbles up to the top. Then ask what is the most important thing I need to do (to move towards that outcome)? Let that thought sink in as you open your eyes letting your breath guide you into productive action.