Do you know what’s your brain doing when you’re daydreaming? Well, it’s still working as usual and is strengthening the pathway of your thoughts that you just built. But, sometimes it can lead to bad memories, suffering and old painful narratives. Not to worry, you can bring back your wandering mind to the present moment by using mindfulness tricks. Here are 5 ways to tame your drifting mind and obtain better focus.
Scan
The first step is to scan your body. Observe if there is any tension built up. Doing this can increase your awareness of your own body. So, when your body is relaxed, your mind will be in relaxation mode too. If you found any stress or tension, try to release it, soften it, or just breathe into it. You can also do some stretching to work out those tight muscles.
Detox
Nowadays, you depend so much on your phone, apps, laptop, TV, etc. Change this bad habit by acknowledging it and find a place and time where you don’t use them. It could be when you are with your friends and family, social events, or even before going to bed.
Be playful
Bring your inner child out and spend your leisure time doing some creative activity. You could dance, draw, read or even play an instrument. Filling up your day with these activities will bring you joy and help to stop your overworking mind.
Breathing
Mindful breathing is simple to do but gives a great result. All you have to do is to focus on your breath and acknowledge it while inhaling and exhaling. By focusing on one thing, your mind won’t wander around anymore. But if it still is, just focus back on your breathing.
Concentration
A quote from Buddha Master Thich Nhat Hanh explained well on this:
“While you breathe in, you follow your in-breath from the beginning to the end. If your in-breath lasts three or four seconds, then your mindfulness also lasts three or four seconds. Breathing in, I follow my in-breath all the way through. Breathing out, I follow my out-breath all the way through. From the beginning of my out-breath to the end of my out-breath, my mind is always with it. Therefore, mindfulness becomes uninterrupted, and the quality of your concentration is improved.”
