(Original post 2011, edited in 2022!)
The tagline for my company is Organizing for Your Peace of Mind. Early on, I realized that I am not just selling my time and expertise to my clients, I am providing Peace of Mind. And I know this because I am constantly learning how to find it for myself, too.
I learned the term “Monkey Mind” years ago. The term monkey mind comes from Buddhist monks to describe our racing thoughts, and it aptly describes my thought process some mornings! (I like this mental image, too with the monkeys swinging from tree to tree.)
But our brain helps us survive and solve problems. So, if given information, time and opportunity, our monkey mind / brain will come up with solutions for us. Here are 5 Ways to Tame Your Monkey Mind, and Let Your Brain Do Its Job!
1. Dump the Monkeys. David Allen in Getting Things Done suggests writing down every idea running around your head on a piece of paper, a new piece for each idea. Then sort the papers (ideas) into categories –Kids, Work, Specific Work Projects, Personal achievements, Tasks, etc. I like technology and achieve the same results with the Evernote where I keep my Daily Task List and also the specific ones, like Client Care, Classes or Tiger Scouts. When the monkey mind overwhelms me, I dump all my ideas on one long un-edited list, then cut and paste the items into their various topic areas. Next time I sit down to work, I open the Note topic I am looking for, and all those ideas are ready and waiting for me to take action.
2. Take a Break: If I lack focus and a clear next step to take, it is often because I need to take a break. If I am with a client, we take a moment to talk and re-establish our goals for our appointment. If I am at home, my favorite breaks are short and to the point, so I can get back to work in a timely manner. I may water my plants, grab a cup of tea, eat an apple, get the mail, file or take out the trash. I DO NOT check my email or Facebook in the middle of a work session, for if I do, I may never make it back to work! But 5 minutes to walk around, take a breath, and re-direct are what I need to help me leave the frazzled behind and find new insights.
3. Take A Nap: My college roomies will attest, I made it through senior year with power naps. Most of my upper level Management courses were evening classes, and I had a daytime job and responsibilities that kept me from sleeping in. So 30 minutes at 4 pm helped me to stay alert and focused for those 3 hour classes! A few weeks ago, I sent myself to my room for a 20 minute time-out, when my kids and my thoughts were all running around too fast to figure out what to do next. I came back a calm, pleasant and focused person!
4. Throw the monkeys off track, and do something completely unrelated. My most relaxed times are while I am hiking, taking a shower, practicing my flute, or reading books with my youngest son. During these activities the monkey mind moves to the back of my consciousness, and has a chance to solve pressing problems without my direct involvement. Luckily, I keep a dry erase marker in the bathroom to jot notes on the mirror, or keep my smart phone with me to jot down task items or ideas as they come to me (except during reading time, that’s just for me and my little guy).
5. Do One Thing. One thing, even if it is not the right or perfect thing, is still progress. “We can’t do everything at once, but we can do something at once.” – Calvin Coolidge
Please share any other suggestions for Calming the Monkey Mind, I would love to know what works for you!