Winter months often come packed with comfort food and a disproportionate amount of couch time. For some, the change in season delivers new enthusiasm to detox and recommit to healthier eating and exercise.
But what about the brain? It, too, can benefit from a springtime reset in order to deliver increased calm, greater clarity and a more restful night’s sleep.
Here are 3 ways to kick-off your ‘headspace cleanse’.
1. Drink (more) water
Why?
Our brains require a balance of water and other nutrients in order to function optimally. Becoming dehydrated affects our brain’s efficiency and can impair decision making, as well as short- and long-term memory.
Cleanse solution
As brain researcher Dr Joshua Gowin
writes in Psychology Today: “Of all the tricks I've learned for keeping my mind sharp, from getting enough sleep to doing crossword puzzles, staying hydrated may be the one I follow most closely.”
Our bodies lose water even as we sleep, so begin each day with two glasses of water, and continue hydrating throughout the day.
2. Get om-to it
Why?
Research suggests that among those who meditate for a period of two months, improvements start to surface such as reduced stress, enhanced memory, a better sense of self and an ability to empathise.
According to author and meditation guru
Deepak Chopra, “Meditation provides experiences that the mind can achieve no other way, such as inner silence and expanded awareness.”
Cleanse solution
Dr Craig Hassed from Monash University suggests joining a class or taking a course to kick-start a habit of meditating or mindfulness. “There’s nothing better than learning from a well-trained teacher, and learning with a group – you can learn from each other’s experiences as well,” he says.
Alternately, commit to nine minutes meditation each morning shortly after you rise, breaking up your meditation into three parts:
- For the first three minutes, in a seated position, close your eyes, focus on your breath and do a slow body scan, noting anything that hurts or feels tight
- For the next three minutes, focus solely on your breath, following your inhale and exhale
- For the final three minutes, tune your ears to the sounds in and beyond the room