Swami Vivekananda, Socrates, Chanakya, Einstein, Plato, Sri Aurobindo: these are some of the few greatest thinkers we’ve ever known. They proved that the path to a better world is born in a clear mind. But when the same mind becomes clouded with endless thoughts, we can get dragged into anxiety, depression, confusion, and delusion. Thanks to overthinking, the mind that could liberate us becomes a prison.
And you can’t escape a prison that lives in your own head, can you? Here’s the good news. If you’re struggling with overthinking, you don’t have to fight your thoughts or run away from them anymore. Because we’re going to share 3 simple yogic hacks to help you overcome overthinking.
1. Decluttering the spaces where you spend the most time
A powerful mind can influence the shape of our environment. But our environment too holds the power to shape our mind. Yogis knew this secret and embraced Aparigraha (non-attachment to possessions). That’s why they often chose to live minimally without owning too many possessions. Does that mean you have to renounce all that you own? No! You just need to cut the clutter and organize it a little better.
Whenever we live in a hotel, we all know how good it feels to come back to a clean fragrant room after room service finishes its work. So why don’t we make that effort for our own home or workplace? Probably because we’ve gathered too much stuff that occupies too much space, and now we have too little time to organize it daily. You don’t know where to start even if you want to organize it. But remember, the more cluttered your environment is, the more overthinking will trouble you.
So where do you even begin? Don’t worry. We’ve made a simple checklist to help you easily declutter any place you want – your cupboard, kitchen, bedroom, work desk, or garage.
i. Make clear categories of the items in the space.
Let’s say you want to declutter your bedroom. Observe which items occupy the most space in your room. Now mark them as the first in your decluttering priority list. For instance, clothes first, then books, pots, posters, decorative pieces, etc. You can even make subcategories if needed to fine-tune your room decluttering. Your clothes could be neatly divided into tops, bottoms, underwear, socks, bags, and accessories.
iI. Only keep that which you really value.
How do I really know if it’s worth discarding or not? That’s one question most of us get stuck with when we try to get rid of old things. We can’t know what you really need. It’s not the price tag of the item that can answer this either. You need to answer it yourself.
So what can you do? Just ask yourself these 2 simple questions when you pick up each item –
- Does it spark joy or inspire positivity within me?
- How often have I used it in the past 6 months?
If it does spark joy and you still actively use it, then keep it and treasure it. Such items will always help positively impact your mind.
III. Organize your space thoroughly after discarding what you don’t need.
The last step may have left your room even messier than before. But don’t worry! The hardest part is over. Now you just need to decide what the best place to store them again is.
Want to save yourself from overthinking about where to find what you need? Then it’s best if you can store all items of the same type in the same place instead of scattering them around. Each storage space should have a clear purpose and should be easily accessible for you.
IV. Finish it all at once.
Want a dramatic shift in your mindset? Then make sure you have enough time to finish your decluttering project at one go.
Doing it bit by bit may sound easy, but it means staying in the middle of a pile of even more clutter for a long time. Your mind will keep getting bombarded by uncertainty about the objects you need to keep or give away. That will make this whole project much more mentally exhausting.
2. AUM chanting to make overthinking disappear
A mantra is more than just words with special meaning. They are powerful sounds that resonate with certain energy centers, which can be activated when we chant them. In the yogic culture, everything manifests as a certain vibration. So the whole universe is nothing but a web of sounds.
AUM is the mother of all sounds. It is the combination of 3 root sounds – “Aa”, “Oo” and “Mm”, uttered together as “AUM”. You literally can’t create any thought, word, or object without these root vibrations. This mantra can also be recognized as “AMEN” in Christian scriptures and “AMIN” in Islamic scriptures.
So how does it help solve your overthinking problem? Today, several research studies have proved that AUM chanting can soothe those parts of the brain that are hyperactivated in people with depression and anxiety. It helps synchronize the left and right hemispheres of your brain, which improves both your logical and intuitive intelligence.
Whether you’re preparing for exams, multi-tasking in your kitchen, or making a presentation for work, AUM chanting is perfect for lifting the burden off your mind. You can chant it anytime of the day, wherever you are, for however long you wish. No problem! Just make sure you know how to chant it correctly. You can learn how to do it in this video below.
3. Doing Trataka on a flame
You’ve heard of candle light dinners to share an intimate evening with your partner. But have you heard of candle light meditations that help you get in touch with yourself more intimately? That’s exactly what Trataka kriya is.
How do you do it? You gaze at a candle keeping your eyes open without blinking for as long as you can.
According to the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Trataka greatly improves concentration and memory. We’re a generation whose attention span is now competing with the attention span of a goldfish. It’s our failure to hold our attention that keeps multiplying our thoughts. Apart from getting rid of overthinking, it can get rid of all eye diseases, fatigue, and laziness as well. If eyes are the windows to the soul, think of Trataka like a window cleaner.
You can follow the instructions in this video for a step-by-step guide to do Trataka kriya at home. Tell us in the comments below what tools have you used to achieve a clear and focused mind.
