Mindfulness when your mind will not be quiet

How do I think of nothing?

Mindfulness sounds so great in theory. The word might be less intimidating than meditation and it can mean a lot of different things. It can be tricky, though, when you want to quiet your mind and your mind says no.

It can be easy to get frustrated and let your thoughts run away. What I've found to be helpful is to focus on something innocuous. Notice how your feet feel on the floor or even how they feel in your shoes. Think about your breath and how it feels. Think about how the table or desk feels under your hands. You could even touch part of your body as an anchor and tap it when you feel your mind start to wander.

I realize this can sound counter-intuitive. Isn’t the whole point to think of nothing? Not exactly. The point is to give your body and mind a break. If you are focusing on how your toes feel on the floor as you take breaths, you aren’t worried about that laundry sitting in the dryer of those dishes in the sink. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but next time, instead of making yourself think of nothing, try thinking about something small. If this helps, celebrate the win!