How Do You Turn Off Your Mind

Enso said:
Super chilled Lo-fi hip hop my friend (about 80 bpm or sometimes even slower), specifically types that almost border into lullabys (or at least that type of vibe).. and just sit.

Also, YouTube streams of rivers and things like that work well too.
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Both of those things tend to get me very agitated. Most times I detest low-energy stimulus input. It feels awful to me. I need something more.

My brain. ¯ \ _ (ツ) _ / ¯

Cheers,
Ian
 
Distraction or medication is the only thing that calms my mind. Both, sometimes. :) Playing a game or talking to someone I care about (something that requires actively being focused) while being on Xanax is very calming. I can't turn my brain off, so I just give it something else to do. :p

(Not saying you should pop Xanax if it isn't prescribed. I do have a prescription for panic attacks. And for constant racing thoughts... it works!)
 
To me personally I figured I need to be aware of what sort of situation it is that I am in. Why I am having trouble to "turn my thoughts off" and what "kind of thoughts" these are.
Is it anxiety? depression? Or just some sort of overwhelm from too much? or from not enough? Is it undefinable mix of feelings or a hell of a lot of thoughts? Or a blend of these? Was it triggered? Do I need dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin or endorphin..?

I write Morning Pages as well as practicing some meditation for a regular habit in general to set a baseline..

Depending on what I find out about those questions I need to do one or another thing, or not do one or another thing.

If I'm unsettled and stressed then it might be low music, binaural beats, breathing, hot chocolate, ask for a hug, taking a walk to do the trick, and taking care of my needs (and the needs of the parts I've neflected).
Sudoku usually helps or I love hue for pure puzzling breaks. Sometimes it's engaging in an interesting topic, reading or learning. Sometimes it is just jotting down notes or talking to someone or to my inside.

If I am more calm and relaxed but want a break from thoughts I paint and listen to favourite music.

What I mean is.. there are different levels of restlessness, and if you have general categories for your own levels then it is easier to figure out what works when for you and when something doesn't.

I think at least to me it is vital to gain awareness or understanding of what you have unbalanced beforehand..
and I think in general avoid fighting or resisting it because then it is just getting stronger instead, like a child that wants attention, if you want. (That would mean.. if you try to meditate and not think but it doesn't work then meditate and just observe them..)

These things can be temporary guests with important messages, direct or indirect.
 
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Depends on the emotion or cause.
Lately it’s distracting myself or opening up to someone I trust about it. I tend to push them away though so it’ll be a lot of learning to let it pass from here in out. Inspect what I’m feeling when it occurs, inspect the thought behind it and let it go. The self blame that occurs with it is difficult. I’m going to assume this is where medication and talk therapy comes in the most helpful form.
 
ExhumedMorrison said:
That thing I haven’t done in a while.
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There is a mindfulness exercise for "hot" emotional moments where an individual sits and counts breaths for three minuets. It does not matter if you count continuously or in chunks or in multiple languages or whatever, just don't speak or move but concentrate on the breath as much as possible.

But turning off the mind from intrusive thoughts and feelings and ruminations is difficult and requires practice, daily practice. It is best to set aside 15-45 minuets each morning for silent , non moving, meditation where you concentrate your thoughts to a single idea or feeling. For many it is an aspiration that is the focus for instance love or support for a dear one or series of dear ones, for others it is an irrational riddle that is the focus, some will even work thru the steps of a mathematical problem or try to recall a long series of items or names. It does not matter what the focus is, what matters is the practice of training your mind to focus on your intention.

Without the daily practice it is too much to ask of anyone to simply turn their mind away from what is disturbing it. My personal experience is that with the daily practice it makes it possible that when a truly disturbing event is being dealt with I can at least distract myself from it for periods of time by focusing on something else until a least some distance is put between the event and my reaction to it.
 
It's not turning my thoughts off as much as distracting them a direction I want them to go.

  • If trying to sleep, I'll recount a favorite dream and hope I can re-dream it.
  • If I'm working/looping I need to step away and pull up a new task, return fresh to the task later.
  • Music is always a good go-to. I love the classical orchestra music the best, the ones without a story attached. Some modern stuff can fit the bill fine too. Love when I'm listening to modern pieces and suddenly realize the words have meaning I can connect to as I don't usually listen to them.
  • Play, Dance, Sing


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Play to your functions.

As an INTJ, my thoughts and sensing are extroverted. If I want to turn off my thinking, I can either spend time by myself just experiencing my values and feelings. Some religiously pious or personally sentimental reflection helps me. Or I can engage in non significant sensory activity, like hiking, swimming, looking at mountains, etc.

For an INFJ, since their thinking and intuition are introverted, turning off your thinking may be helped by participating in some light socialisation, like listening to music with others, playing cards, or other in-person games, etc. Or perhaps entertaining some non-significant intuitive activity, like reading immersive fiction.
 
My brain unplug activities include:
1. YouTube wormholing (although I still absorb information whether I want to or not).
2. Video games.
3. Sleep
4. Well written films

I would say sex but I cannot unplug my brain during that. It’s in my nature to take it all in with all the five+ senses.
 
Sometimes Yeah said:
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Play to your functions.
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Totally! Good point. :)

In Objective Personality there is also this notion. (Just adding here) Basically it says:

1) physically tired but mentally charged > overused Savior functions
2) mentally exhausted and drained > overused Demon functions

to 1) to balance would be using a bit of demon functions
to 2) to balance would be using savior functions

Saviors: Dom+Aux (or for Jumpers Dom+"Ter")
Demons: Ter+Inf (or for Jumpers Inf+"Aux")
 
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FiftySeven said:
Without the daily practice it is too much to ask of anyone to simply turn their mind away from what is disturbing it. My personal experience is that with the daily practice it makes it possible that when a truly disturbing event is being dealt with I can at least distract myself from it for periods of time by focusing on something else until a least some distance is put between the event and my reaction to it.
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It’s helpful for post traumatic experiences because you don’t want to project them into the future, but it becomes a catch 22 without awareness. I’ve noticed journaling helps with that part. At least to reform the belief a negative event may have created. Agreed.
 
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