I worry about things I did/said, things I didn’t do/say, things I should have done/said, things I shouldn’t have done/said, I don’t know how I find the time to do/not do anything else. My head hurts-
Make a list of things to do. Write it down. And then start to do the things on the list. You will feel a great sense of accomplishment. That way the time you spent thinking of all the things you haven’t done will not feel like a waste of time. Get a pencil and paper. And make your list
I can’t believe you haven’t tried it. When I find my mind wandering, that’s ok because it can be a very creative time. But when I need to get lots done. It’s a list that gets me through the work. And I also write a list of things I must accomplish in the next 30 days. Then I make a schedule for the next 30 days. It’s good to make a list for 5 years and ten years ahead also. Because it enhances your dreaming which you must not be angry with yourself about. Set yourself free to think. It is a luxury.
This is me on days. I saw how much unnecessary energy was spent on the imaginary conversation in my head. I stopped and found energy for my things. It was a big revelation. Thanks for sharing.
What a powerful realization. It’s amazing how much energy our thoughts can take without us even noticing. Thank you so much for sharing your experience 😊
Cognitive load is a real thing. It is exhausting and one of the reasons many mothers feel so exhausted. They are carrying that load for their whole family.
I always try to learn one new thing every day. Even if it is small, I can always feel like I accomplished something. Yesterday, I learned grits are good for you, not just filling. I didn't have to learn anything the rest of the day. I did but I was under no pressure and felt better at the end of the day.
I live in my head , and it is a very busy place. People think of ADHD as a physical disorder but the mental part is the hardest to deal with. There are so many thoughts that it is exhausting.
Thank you for sharing your experience. Having so many thoughts at once sounds incredibly exhausting. I really appreciate you adding this perspective to the conversation.
When we are tired but haven't done much of anything to be tired, we are like the swan, gracefully gliding on top of the still water, but paddling furiously beneath, like our life depends on moving forward. When we are overtired, it's because we have entertained and considered 100000 thoughts in the day, and they have simply overwhelmed our senses, depleting our energy. It's the tiredness of an overactive mind, a restless mind, a curious mind that won't quieten down any time we're conscious. When I feel like this, with too many ideas competing for attention, I walk in the pine forest next to my house. Just walk, somewhere green. After ten minutes, my mind calms down.
I think it's the green. Looking and moving in the green space.
Today, I stared at an old gnarly pine tree that was probably 200 years old. I stared, I took photos, I wondered at all that pine had been through. I stepped out of my own mind and hugged the rough bark. My thoughts eased, slowing down to a manageable pace. I walked for 70 minutes, slowly, taking in the light, the shade, the rocks and boulders with new moss.
I got down low and looked at that new moss close up. When I was at eye level with it, each tiny stand of green moss was like a miniature pine forest on its own. I feel like a giant.
It changes my perspective. I move outside my own mind and be the pine, be the boulder covered in lichen, or the old pine with dead branches hanging, and live ones reaching out sideways like elongated arms. My thoughts slow down. I am renewed. Out of myself by wandering in green.
Then I feel so fortunate to have this place, this tree, this boulder, this bright new moss, this pine forest. And I'm grateful for my new puppy, Zed, exploring, sniffing, weeing, adventuring in this new place beside me, and I feel energised by his inexhaustible energy.
Suddenly, I'm not scattered; I am calm, clear-minded, and supremely content. Not tired anymore, my mind is full of my surroundings, full of everything external to me. I am outside of myself.
I realised I had lost the retractable dog leash; it fell out of my jacket pocket. So I scanned the ground without panicking, without worrying, knowing it would be around there somewhere, and I could always come back tomorrow and find it.
My restless mind didn't come back. I stayed at ease, wonderfully smooth and even while watching my scampering pup. He had to scent and taste everything because he'd never been to the forest before. I started seeing things with Zed's eyes. And I burst out laughing.
I came across some wildflowers, small, white, five-petalled flowers I'd never seen before. Flowering after yesterday's rain with three full weeks of our Australian winter to go.
Another miracle of life and nature.
It's all a miracle of life and nature. I forget that when my mind is too active. So, I head home. My mind stays quiet. Unhurried and unworried, in a natural limbo from the forest bathing and walking Zed. The puppy who ran rings around me with his whippy tail and curious nose to the ground. And my body is tired now. My mind is still in slow motion, content with the thoughts that have come up while writing this. Happy with my forest walk, not perturbed by anything for once.
Being somewhere green, looking outside yourself, being a tree, a wildflower, a flat boulder covered in new moss or lichen, or a leash-free pup going overboard with new sights and smells. It makes the body physically tired, but it lets our soul soar and our mind slow enough to realise the world is beautiful. Always and every day, extraordinary, when we pause long enough to notice it.
Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful reflection. I especially loved the image of the swan — calm on the surface, while paddling furiously underneath. And the way you described stepping out of your own mind and into the forest really stayed with me. Your walk with Zed sounds wonderful. Thank you for adding such a thoughtful perspective to this conversation.
You are so welcome. I tried doing the same today, but the thunder, lightning, rainstorm, and hailstorm made my baby Zed run all the way home with his tail between his legs. No walkies; he was too scared. He actually picked up the handle of his leash. We found it! Then brought it to me to take him inside.
Zed's grandfather was named Thor, after the god of thunder. He was petrified of storms, especially thunder. His grandson takes after him, and that's okay.
We came back home, and it gave me a chance to cuddle and console the little pup.
Forest bathing is wonderful, but snuggles with the wag-tailed furry one are pretty good as well.
La tua nota mi ha fatto pensare a come spesso finisco con il sentirmi in colpa per non aver fatto "niente".
Il niente poi è stato rappresentato da tante piccole cose. Ma sono più quelle che devo che quelle che voglio, o semplicemente mi sono sentita stanca per fare ciò che volevo e ho finito con il fare solo ciò che dovevo.
Cerco di lavorare sul liberarmi dal senso di colpa che sento quando mi voglio o sento di volermi solo riposare. Perché alla fine tutta quella stanchezza che non accetto di sentire poiché non mi sembra giustificata, in realtà viene dalle preoccupazioni che ho in questo periodo
Grazie per aver condiviso questa riflessione. Mi ha colpito molto la distinzione tra le cose che “devo” fare e quelle che “voglio” fare. A volte anche le preoccupazioni che non si vedono possono consumare tanta energia. Spero che tu possa concederti il riposo di cui hai bisogno, senza sentirti in colpa. Grazie davvero per aver letto e condiviso la tua esperienza.
This is me exactly
I worry about things I did/said, things I didn’t do/say, things I should have done/said, things I shouldn’t have done/said, I don’t know how I find the time to do/not do anything else. My head hurts-
That sounds exhausting. It’s so hard to rest when your mind keeps replaying everything.
I’m glad I’m not the only one!
Make a list of things to do. Write it down. And then start to do the things on the list. You will feel a great sense of accomplishment. That way the time you spent thinking of all the things you haven’t done will not feel like a waste of time. Get a pencil and paper. And make your list
That’s a great idea! Writing things down can really help clear the mind. Thank you for sharing 😊
I can’t believe you haven’t tried it. When I find my mind wandering, that’s ok because it can be a very creative time. But when I need to get lots done. It’s a list that gets me through the work. And I also write a list of things I must accomplish in the next 30 days. Then I make a schedule for the next 30 days. It’s good to make a list for 5 years and ten years ahead also. Because it enhances your dreaming which you must not be angry with yourself about. Set yourself free to think. It is a luxury.
Thank you for sharing more about how you use lists. I especially like the idea of giving ourselves the freedom to think and dream 😊
This is me on days. I saw how much unnecessary energy was spent on the imaginary conversation in my head. I stopped and found energy for my things. It was a big revelation. Thanks for sharing.
What a powerful realization. It’s amazing how much energy our thoughts can take without us even noticing. Thank you so much for sharing your experience 😊
Me too. 👍
It seems there are many of us! 😊
Good read. I recognize that I suffer much more in my own mind that in reality. Thank you for writing and sharing
Thank you so much for reading and sharing your thoughts. Our minds can sometimes carry more than we realize. I’m glad this resonated with you 😊
Cognitive load is a real thing. It is exhausting and one of the reasons many mothers feel so exhausted. They are carrying that load for their whole family.
Absolutely. So much of that mental load is invisible, which can make it easy to overlook. Thank you for putting this into words 😊
I always try to learn one new thing every day. Even if it is small, I can always feel like I accomplished something. Yesterday, I learned grits are good for you, not just filling. I didn't have to learn anything the rest of the day. I did but I was under no pressure and felt better at the end of the day.
I love this idea! One small thing is enough to give us that sense of accomplishment without adding more pressure. Thank you for sharing ！
I live in my head , and it is a very busy place. People think of ADHD as a physical disorder but the mental part is the hardest to deal with. There are so many thoughts that it is exhausting.
Thank you for sharing your experience. Having so many thoughts at once sounds incredibly exhausting. I really appreciate you adding this perspective to the conversation.
Great article!
Thank you so much for reading! 😊
Great article. Worrying takes a lot of energy. I need to learn that. And let go and stay in the moment
So true. Worrying can take up so much energy without us even realizing it. I’m learning to let go and stay in the moment too. Thank you for reading 😊
When we are tired but haven't done much of anything to be tired, we are like the swan, gracefully gliding on top of the still water, but paddling furiously beneath, like our life depends on moving forward. When we are overtired, it's because we have entertained and considered 100000 thoughts in the day, and they have simply overwhelmed our senses, depleting our energy. It's the tiredness of an overactive mind, a restless mind, a curious mind that won't quieten down any time we're conscious. When I feel like this, with too many ideas competing for attention, I walk in the pine forest next to my house. Just walk, somewhere green. After ten minutes, my mind calms down.
I think it's the green. Looking and moving in the green space.
Today, I stared at an old gnarly pine tree that was probably 200 years old. I stared, I took photos, I wondered at all that pine had been through. I stepped out of my own mind and hugged the rough bark. My thoughts eased, slowing down to a manageable pace. I walked for 70 minutes, slowly, taking in the light, the shade, the rocks and boulders with new moss.
I got down low and looked at that new moss close up. When I was at eye level with it, each tiny stand of green moss was like a miniature pine forest on its own. I feel like a giant.
It changes my perspective. I move outside my own mind and be the pine, be the boulder covered in lichen, or the old pine with dead branches hanging, and live ones reaching out sideways like elongated arms. My thoughts slow down. I am renewed. Out of myself by wandering in green.
Then I feel so fortunate to have this place, this tree, this boulder, this bright new moss, this pine forest. And I'm grateful for my new puppy, Zed, exploring, sniffing, weeing, adventuring in this new place beside me, and I feel energised by his inexhaustible energy.
Suddenly, I'm not scattered; I am calm, clear-minded, and supremely content. Not tired anymore, my mind is full of my surroundings, full of everything external to me. I am outside of myself.
I realised I had lost the retractable dog leash; it fell out of my jacket pocket. So I scanned the ground without panicking, without worrying, knowing it would be around there somewhere, and I could always come back tomorrow and find it.
My restless mind didn't come back. I stayed at ease, wonderfully smooth and even while watching my scampering pup. He had to scent and taste everything because he'd never been to the forest before. I started seeing things with Zed's eyes. And I burst out laughing.
I came across some wildflowers, small, white, five-petalled flowers I'd never seen before. Flowering after yesterday's rain with three full weeks of our Australian winter to go.
Another miracle of life and nature.
It's all a miracle of life and nature. I forget that when my mind is too active. So, I head home. My mind stays quiet. Unhurried and unworried, in a natural limbo from the forest bathing and walking Zed. The puppy who ran rings around me with his whippy tail and curious nose to the ground. And my body is tired now. My mind is still in slow motion, content with the thoughts that have come up while writing this. Happy with my forest walk, not perturbed by anything for once.
Being somewhere green, looking outside yourself, being a tree, a wildflower, a flat boulder covered in new moss or lichen, or a leash-free pup going overboard with new sights and smells. It makes the body physically tired, but it lets our soul soar and our mind slow enough to realise the world is beautiful. Always and every day, extraordinary, when we pause long enough to notice it.
Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful reflection. I especially loved the image of the swan — calm on the surface, while paddling furiously underneath. And the way you described stepping out of your own mind and into the forest really stayed with me. Your walk with Zed sounds wonderful. Thank you for adding such a thoughtful perspective to this conversation.
You are so welcome. I tried doing the same today, but the thunder, lightning, rainstorm, and hailstorm made my baby Zed run all the way home with his tail between his legs. No walkies; he was too scared. He actually picked up the handle of his leash. We found it! Then brought it to me to take him inside.
Zed's grandfather was named Thor, after the god of thunder. He was petrified of storms, especially thunder. His grandson takes after him, and that's okay.
We came back home, and it gave me a chance to cuddle and console the little pup.
Forest bathing is wonderful, but snuggles with the wag-tailed furry one are pretty good as well.
That sounds like such a sweet ending to the day. Thank you for sharing Zed’s story with me. 🥰
I feel more relaxed and calm after reading your article. Thank you.
I’m so happy to hear that. Thank you so much for reading and letting me know 😊
This reads like it was written by AI: disjointed, repetitive, weird line spacing, etc...
Thanks for the feedback!
Stress is a real killer!
Absolutely! It can take so much out of us without us even realizing it.
La tua nota mi ha fatto pensare a come spesso finisco con il sentirmi in colpa per non aver fatto "niente".
Il niente poi è stato rappresentato da tante piccole cose. Ma sono più quelle che devo che quelle che voglio, o semplicemente mi sono sentita stanca per fare ciò che volevo e ho finito con il fare solo ciò che dovevo.
Cerco di lavorare sul liberarmi dal senso di colpa che sento quando mi voglio o sento di volermi solo riposare. Perché alla fine tutta quella stanchezza che non accetto di sentire poiché non mi sembra giustificata, in realtà viene dalle preoccupazioni che ho in questo periodo
Grazie per aver condiviso questa riflessione. Mi ha colpito molto la distinzione tra le cose che “devo” fare e quelle che “voglio” fare. A volte anche le preoccupazioni che non si vedono possono consumare tanta energia. Spero che tu possa concederti il riposo di cui hai bisogno, senza sentirti in colpa. Grazie davvero per aver letto e condiviso la tua esperienza.
水森さん、おはようございます。
「今日、何をずっと気にしていたかな」と考えて書き出すとスッキリしますね。
私も、書き出してスッキリの書く瞑想をよくしています。
何もしていないと思っていても、案外色々していて、頭はフル活動だったりしますよね。
共感する記事をありがとうございます🎶
「サト愛さん、おはようございます！
『書く瞑想』で頭の中にあるものを書き出すとスッキリしそうです✨。
何もしていないつもりでも、頭は意外とフル活動していること、ありますよね☺️
共感していただけて嬉しいです。ありがとうございます！！