“Protect Your Mind.”

My morning thoughts on why you should protect your mind…..

It’s been reported that the average millennial spends about 18 hours a day consuming media.  Whether it’s watching reality TV, binging on Netflix or scrolling through Instagram, millennials are constantly bombarded with different messages.  Keeping up with social media alone is no easy task…Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Vine, YouTube, etc is a job in it of itself.  No wonder why millennials are so stressed and report more stress than any other generation!  I’m not saying media is the root cause of our generation’s anxiety, but I think the amount of it we are exposed to definitely plays a role in the stress many feel.

A few years back, I made it a point to not just block out all negativity from my life, but also as much mental clutter and outside noise as possible–including things that I believe waste my time, like Snapchat, for example.  Just like studies have shown that it’s important to have a clean living environment and workspace to foster productivity and creativity, I believe it’s even more important to have a clear mind.  At the very core of having a strong mind is the ability to think clearly and efficiently!

And when it comes to multi-tasking and mentally juggling a lot of tasks and/or the media we consume, although many people think they can get more done, the reality is that studies have proven otherwise and, personally, I agree. When you focus on one thing 100% you’re much more productive and efficient than when you have a bunch of distractions and tasks that also require your full attention.  And we all know that when we “half-ass” something, it’s never our best work.  Humans actually only have the ability to focus on one thing at a time and not many things simultaneously.  We can; however, switch from one task to another very quickly. But, this doesn’t mean we can do it very effectively or very well at all.  I created a Daily Planner that helps you prioritize your tasks, focus on those and ultimately get more things done.  If you’re interested in trying a new daily planning system, you can download it here.

When I was a Junior at USC, I had the privilege of taking an entrepreneurship class with Paul Orfalea.  Paul is the founder of the original Kinkos that later was bought out by FedEx.  He always used to say “You kids are so busy!  Busy, busy, busy. Lift up your head and look around every once in a while.”  I understand what he was trying to tell us at the time.  We are so distracted these days by everything coming at us that it’s easy lose control of our mind and not be alert or actively make conscious decisions and live intentionally.  The is why we need to protect our brains and block all access in and only allow one entry point that we ourselves control!  When we control our thoughts and everything we allow in, we clear up space to think clearly and mentally work at our best.

I, personally, do not watch the news.  While I think it’s important to be well informed of what is going on in the world, the news, especially local news, is filled with violence and negativity that make it seem like the world is ending and we should all stay home and take cover.  Where are all the uplifting, positive stories that make you want to go out and live life?  Certainly not during the nightly news.  Even having it on in the background or as background noise is something you’re allowing your brain to process.  And, when it comes to movies, I’ll be honest, I rather watch something that’s light than a drama or with heavy violence that stresses me out and makes me anxious for two hours.  I feel the same about celebrity gossip–why give any of your attention or precious time to even care about what Justin Bieber or Kim Kardashian did or didn’t do?  Who cares?  At the end of the day, it’s mental clutter you don’t need.  Taking a mental break and relaxing is obviously very important and entertainment is certainly an outlet for that; I just want you to be aware of what you’re allowing in and processing through that precious mind of yours!

Strong Girls, I believe we should guard our brains just like we guard our hearts. We certainly don’t let everyone in and we are selective of those that do have access.  We should’t allow just anything or any media that comes our way entry into our minds, our most powerful muscle in our body!  Strong minds that are sharp, alert and clear aren’t filled with clutter, outside noise or full of meaningless distractions.  Make yourself aware of and filter what you’re letting into your mind.  Protect it and you’ll realize you’ll have more control, feel lighter and, ultimately, be more efficient and productive!

xx