MENTAL HEALTH BOOSTS
MENTAL HEALTH BOOSTS
How to get motivated, the easy way.
When I woke up this morning, it was like my brain was offline. There was no feeling. No thoughts. No motivation. So I used the only tool of mine that requires no brain power, I walked.
When was the last time you got your hands dirty?
The next time you feel exhausted with life, turn off your work and logical prefrontal cortex and turn on the work-with-your-hands mindset instead. Tinker, build or create something just for the sake of creation. And then let that strength and empowerment fill you back up to tackle whatever comes next.
Brain spinning out of control? Clean out these two things.
A few weeks ago I talked about my Dump List (click here to read the Dump List Boost). This resonated with many of you, and you wondered if I had another tip to share in the same vein. Boy do I ever. You don’t need to deep clean your whole house to regain control. What you need is a strategic clean.
Don’t let that summer goal fall with the Autumn leaves.
It’s August already?! Instead of thinking about the end of summer, think of August as the beginning of the harvest when it comes to your summer goals.
Does the heat make you feel like a Zombie?
You’re not imagining it, and you’re not lazy. The hot summer months really do affect your brain. From working memory to executive functions, high temps can make you feel like you are a heat zombie.
When Things Don’t Go as Planned
When all hell breaks loose, and it will, breathe in shoganai, acceptance. It’s impossible to control everything, and therefore impossible for things to always go as planned. So take a breath and instead of mourning what could have been, accept it for what it is and stay the course.
The Anticipation Trick
The positive experience of looking forward to something has a name when it comes to behavioral economic theory: Utility of Anticipation. Take it from noted author Thomas Hardy, “Pleasure not known beforehand is half-wasted; to anticipate it is to double it.” (The Return of the Native)
15-Min Wanderlust Challenge
When was the last time you went for a purposeless stroll? Or let your mind wander without feeling the least bit of guilt for not being productive? It’s counter intuitive, but there are HUGE benefits of letting your body and brain go where they please.
Feeling Guilty?
Guilt makes you want to confess, it’s an evolutionary thing, but so is avoiding admitting wrong.
The Frustration Intervention
Controlling your frustration can be, well, frustrating. Here's how to intervene and gain back your control before frustration completely takes over.
Overactive Should Police Ruining Your Day?
I like to think of my superego as my “Should Police.” I should do this, I shouldn’t do that, etc. etc... but where did all these “shoulds” come from, and why am I always “shoulding” all over myself?