Like the spinning hourglass or beachball on a computer, our heads can get stuck stuck thinking the same negative thoughts over and over again. This week on ZENandTECH, Georgia and Rene discuss ways to figure out why you're perseverating and how you can deal with it.
Read on for the show notes!
What is mental clutter
- Anything that keeps cycling in our mind and we cant seem to let go of it.
- Sometimes triggered by a past event or perhaps it is something that has just occurred.
- A recent even or personal encounter count trigger something from childhood.
- Causes us distress and doesn’t leave our mind like other life events.
Why do we get mental clutter?
- It's actually Beneficial.
- Most things that have evolved because it helps protect us.
- They helped the organism survive and reproduce.
If it was a detriment to us in the long run it probably wouldn’t have stayed with us. So there is probably a evolutionary benefit to this type of mental clutter occurrence.
Cognitive restructuring
| Strength of feeling (%) | What happened | Why do I feel this? | Solution | Outcomes | Updated feeling (%) |
- Every night pick one thought or feeling that is cycling through your head and causing you stress
- Rank the level of stress it's causing you
- Write down what happened to cause it
- Write down why you think what happened caused you to feel the way you do
- Write down potential solutions
- Try the solutions!
- Write down the outcome of your trial solution
- Rank the level of stress after you've tried the solution
If you don't feel better, repeat the process and try a different solution, even if that solution is acceptance that there is no ideal solution.
Thought journal
- Write down your cognitive restructuring each night.
- Look for patterns, things that are similar in nature.
These are usually our “wounds” things that we have not dealt with or have been hurt from when we were younger.
Tech picks
If it's too hard to write in a journal, try voice-to-text software!
- Android has voice-to-text built in
- There's Vlingo for Android, iPhone, (Windows Mobile, Nokia)
- Dragon Dictation is great for Mac/PC and iPhone/iPad
You also could try a convenient place to work
Help us help you!
Please help us out by recommending ZENandTECH to your family, friends, and co-workers! They're just as stressed as you are, help them out!
And if you haven't already, please leave us a rating and review in iTunes!, it really helps us reach and help more people!
Sponsor
RENE: This episode of ZEN and TECH is brought to you by the Android Central Store, your one stop shop for everything Droid, Galaxy, EVO, Thunderbolt, and dozens of other devices. Check out the batteries, cases, cables, headsets and much, much more at [www.shopandroid.com(http://www.shopandroid.com?utm_campaign=community&utm_source=d_im&utm_medium=content). Tell 'em Lloyd sent you.
Hosts
- @GeorgiaTiPb (Georgia)
- @reneritchie (Rene)
Contact
You can reach all of us @ZENandTECH, via email at podcast@zenandtech.tv, or leave a comment below!
Thanks everyone, you're the best community on the web and we love having you with us!
Disclaimer
While Georgia is a therapist, she's not YOUR therapist. Everything said or implied on this show is for informational and entertainment purposes only. And shouldn't be taken in any way as a replacement for proper, professional care.
Credits
Music is Peace on Earth by wellman.
We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.
New York Times is pulling its crosswords from third-party apps for reasons
The New York Times has announced that it will stop making its crosswords available as .puz files from August 10, forcing everyone to use its own app if they want to continue solving the puzzles.
Apple is no longer signing iOS 14.7 — it's iOS 14.7.1 or nothing now
Apple has stopped signing iOS 14.7 which means people can no longer install it on iPhones. That means that the only version of iOS that can be installed as of right now is the iOS 14.7.1 update that was released last week.
Apple Watch Series 7 pops up in regulatory filings as expected launch nears
As we get closer to an expected announcement, Apple Watch Series 7 appears to have popped up in the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) database. While the database doesn't explicitly list the devices as new Apple Watches, that's very likely to be what they are.
Make your wallet unlosable with a specialized AirTag wallet
Do you have a habit of leaving your wallet inside coffee shops and Ubers? Or have you had a traumatic stolen wallet experience? If so, an AirTag wallet may just what you need.