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.
Reader comments
ZENandTECH 07: Mental beach-ball
what does this have to do with iPhones, iPads or iPod Touches???
OK, here we go again…
Look guys, it's your blog and you can do whatever you want. You can talk about things spiritual, emotional, and now we see therapeutical all you want… really you can! And no one will blame you.
People just won't read what you write if we choose not to.
But must we be in-your-face-subjected to the dreamy romantic photos (for which there is no path around) ?
Arughhh ! Get a ROOM !
I echo the other statement ("what does this have to do with iPhones, iPads or iPod Touches???") and could go on from there. As well, I recall that in another recent article on similar topics, filled with photos of you two, the reaction was similar.
So please, get some other photos, or perhaps ** a generic photo / logo based around the word "ZenAndTech" ? ** Then we know what is there and can avoid the link if we choose.
Get the "we're in love" personalities outta' here.
I recently cut the cord with cable-tv, had no withdrawal, shakes or negative consequences (there's a variety of DVDs on the book case and of course the web has most everything not to mention Stitcher and iTunes and and and…). I know that I am only one of your readers but I am most likely not alone: I can easily stop making tipb.com one of the blogs I read on a daily basis. Information from this-site-and-that-site ends up being duplicated all over the place in short order anyway: I will eventually get the information I need… it's not like tipb.com is the only game in town.
Again, please think over what you are doing.
Warm regards,
Lawrence
I agree with Lawrence. I come here for Apple news and things of that nature. Not how to clear my mind of mental clutter. If I need that advice, I'll find it at a health website or blog. Not a tech blog. Just because Apple is labeled a lifestyle brand doesn't mean that it needs to be mimicked by TiPb.
I like the podcasts. If I don't I don't have to listen. People are so whiny.
Fair enough. I'll take a listen :)
@reneritchie:
I LIKE the new logo, that's more like it! Just the facts and on the way there I am not distracted by "dreamy" photos (someone else said 'dreamy' about the photos the last time that this was brought up, so don't blame me).
"It's human. It's humanizing.I 'm a person. Georgia is a person."
Sure you are, and that's fine ! But what I think that I get now gthat I didn't get before, is that you folks are building a "brand" and that's also fine.
Just not for me, right now I want the facts, and the other stuff gets in the way.
"(Though the photo is decidedly non-romantic, they're from 2 completely different shoots, at different times, in different places -- though I thank you for the Photoshop praise.)"
You are most welcome, as it WAS skillful work, but may I say personally that what this is all about are what image the photos you use convey?
Maybe two shoots but 'dreamy' anyway.
LOL
It's OK to market the looks of a good looking couple !
Right now, I wrote because I wanted the facts.
All the best,
Lawrence
PS
@Travis: Exactly.
@Ghost69 ("I like the podcasts. If I don't I don't have to listen. People are so whiny.") I for one was not referring to the PodCasts, rather to the photoa used with the "ZENandTECH" articles. Again the present logo is a vast improvement!