Declutter Your Mind

Declutter Your Mind: Simple Action Plan to Quiet Your Mind and Negative Thoughts, Sandy Quinn, 2017, self-published

Many books have been written about de-cluttering your house or your life. This short book focuses on de-cluttering your mind.

First of all, you should set aside twenty minutes per day, preferably in the early morning or evening (it can be done anytime during the day). You are not too busy; how much time do you spend on Facebook, every day? Set the timer on your smartphone, but set it to Silent notifications. It can also be done anywhere. Sit on a yoga mat at the park or beach; drive to a quiet spot and do it in your car; do it at the local library or sit in an unused closet in your home. You can also do it in the bathroom while sitting in the bathtub or on the toilet. The book includes several mantras that one can chant to help focus the mind.

Your mind will wander, to work or kids or what's for supper. Don't get discouraged; figuratively, attach a leash to your mind and pull it back. Do it everyday, make it a habit. Anxiety and negative thoughts are a normal part of life; letting such thoughts take over is not normal.

Why should a person bother with this mindfulness stuff? It is not religious, it is psychological. There are many health benefits, including improved memory and problem-solving ability, increased productivity and a raised serotonin level can lead to a level mood balance and restful sleep. The amygdala is the "fight or flight" part of the brain. When it is "on" all the time, an inability to relax, a tendency to get sick easily and gastrointestinal problems can result. Regular mindfulness practice can shrink the amygdala. Physically, mindfulness practice can lower your blood pressure, help your immune system and reduce or prevent diseases ranging from asthma to epilepsy to fibromyalgia to Alzheimer's Disease.

On the positive side, this is a short book that is easy to read. If it can help the average person even a small amount, then it is worth the money. On the negative side, this book needs a trip, or another trip, to a proofreader or copy editor.