Friday, June 6, 2008

Chatter Brain

MizFit had a great topic this week (on her Monday Face time).

Check it out. She talks about the "negative chatter within" and how to change that chatter to be positive. One suggestion is to think: Is this thinking helping me to feel good and reach my goals?

I have been blogging about trying to find the positive in things, so this blog was one that stuck a chord with me.

I'm sure most of you know a chatter mouth or two. The ladies at the gym or church that just can't shut their yap for a minute! Well, I have a "Chatter Brain." (Sometimes it turns into chatter mouth after a few glasses of wine, but that's another blog.)

My brain feels like it's constantly on overload. Not necessarily negative thoughts (thanks to lots of practice), but always several thoughts at once. Usually they aren't even related. For example:

Is it lunch time yet? I'm hungry. Did I turn off my straightening iron? What
should I wear to the funeral. I hope I brought cheese to work. I need to get my
oil changed. I can't believe the Captain is still so mad at me. He has my crock
pot. I never use my crock pot. I should find a recipe for crock pot chili. (I
think about food a lot). I need to call my dad. Thank goodness there's no
chocolate in the office. Do I have gas in my car? What am I going to wear to
tonight? I have to send pictures to my mom. Why is it so damn cold in here?

You get the picture. It's like this all day and all night. BUT, I found a way to stop the chatter, at least for a short about of time.

PUT MY BODY INTO A PHYSICALLY STRESSFUL SITUATION
(i.e. Run long distance, do Bikram yoga, etc.)

If I am sitting in a 105 degree room trying to do yoga positions, my brain is ONLY focused on that exact moment. If I'm running, I am only focused on my feet, breathing, maybe music. If I am pushing my body to it's limit with something, then I can't think about anything else.

It's freakin' awesome! Try it.

Song of the Day: Move Shake Drop Remix by DJ Laz

28 comments:

Jess said...

You know, I was thinking about this exact same thing this afternoon when I was running and it was 94 degrees out. The benefit of such a workout is that the workout is absolutely the only thing I'm thinking about. It's a weird kind of focus.

Anonymous said...

i'm the same way too.. although my brain isn't quite as chattery as yours!

Randi said...

Sorta interesting. I have the opposite mind, very blank all the time. I know it makes me sound stupid but whatever. I really have nothing running through my head most of the time. (generally makes me happy). BUT when I run, my mind races. I have to have music to distract me.

Randi said...

RYC - "whatever it takes right?" that's right, you gotta find your motivation where you can! ;)

Judi said...

I am the exact opposite. I think constantly when running, riding, swimming. It's insane.

the Bag Lady said...

The Bag Lady can't shut off the chatter in her brain. Ever. Makes it almost impossible to get any sleep. She also always has a song running through her head - over and over and it's usually something that she really despises.
**maybe there's medication available...**

carla said...

thanks for the shoutout----swing by monday as the rambling continues (uh, I mean on video. in my brain? that's a given)

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

MizFit

ShirleyPerly said...

Whatever works to shut that chatter up is good. I tend to think too much on long runs but short fast-paced runs don't leave much room for that (unfortunately, they're short, though). Being on vacation is helping slow things down too!

Anonymous said...

My mind is always going! It doesn't matter what I am doing I am always thinking about something. However, long runs do help. When I am on one, I usually bore myself out which helps to settle my mind for the rest of the day.

Viv said...

My mind does the same. It gets worst as soon as I get in bed. I did laugh at all your thoughts though.

I chipped a tooth in pilates once cause I was not concentrating.

The misc thoughts continue over here...

Brianna said...

I have a hard time turning off my internal monologue, too. It even keeps me up nights, which is FRUSTRATING!

Not having to think, but needing to focus, is one of my favorite things about going to yoga - and why I like going to class instead of trying a solo practice at home. I hand over my thinking to Sara and let her tell my body what to do. That time focused on what my body is doing instead of fixing life's issues is SO refreshing and actually lasts well into the evening. LOVE that!

Erica said...

My best friend and I were talking just the other day about how we do this all of the time. She gets so bad sometimes that she can't sleep (a problem I rarely have) and I told her to get more into exercise. It is amazing what that can do for your sanity!

Have a great weekend :)

Danielle said...

I agree...1000%!

Marcy said...

I am the SAME way, and a lot of times I'll be int he middle of doing things and will walk away because I jsut remembered "something else" My hosue looks like a disaster of half finished projects. Anyway, I still find it hard to focus on 1 thing even when running :-/ LOL

eurydice said...

hahaha everytime i leave the house i wonder if i've turned off my straightening iron! sometimes i have to go back and check which is a huge pain in the ass... i unplug it usually to be sure. what if it turned on by itself... !!!

ssgreylord said...

I used to have a total chatter brain (and still slip back occasionally) but like you, have found yoga calms my mind (whether it be a physically challenging style like Bikram, or a particularly peaceful side of my own asanas). Through this my mind has started to shut down (in a good way).

Carly said...

I am the same way and it only gets worse when I run. But at least when I run I am forced to do one activity even though my mind is racing.

AddictedToEndorphins said...

HMM. Maybe I'm just not running hard enough during my long runs. Maybe I should push harder, cause seriously that don't work for me. I think MORE. Decide what I have to do for the day, think about the run and analyze it as I go, decide what I'm going to do tomorrow!

P.S.
Great job on the 10!!!

Crissy Rae said...

That's how I am about swimming..I just focus on my breathing and the strokes and my brain takes a break for awhile.

With running I am still desperately staring at my watch hoping for the point where I reach my distance so I can stop.

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Stephanie said...

Hehe - that's so funny! I just (well a bit ago) did a similar post about how my brain just won't shut up!! So I totally know how you feel. I've found the only way to get myself to shut up is by closing my eyes and just focussing on my breathing. Even when I swim, my mind keeps talking.

Victoria said...

I think in Buddhism, that's supposed to be called "monkey mind"-- when your mind bounces all over the place like a monkey, with lots of different useless thoughts. I spend a lot of time there. A lot. I've gotten better about relaxing with it (everything gets better after you turn 30), because, well, sometimes being an obsessive person has really helped me out in life. Obsessing (planning, thinking, then doing) has meant that I accomplish things when I put my mind to it. The "can't turn it off" is the downside. Oh well.

Hope you enjoyed the 1/2 in SB, my hometown!

carla said...

so how was the weekend?

(and I love the monkey mind concept...and ADORE how accessible eliz. gilbert made the whole thing in the PRAY part of EAT PRAY LOVE)

MizFit

Teacher Pursuits said...

Dude, my brain never stops. Its awful and beautiful - I am constantly thinking. BUT, I see what you mean with your intense activity philosophy... I find that after I get through the first couple of miles, my thoughts are A LOT clearer. And, especially so when I am not wearing my iPod which I have been doing lately. Its so refreshing!

Unknown said...

Do we happen to have the same brain? haha. jk

Heather said...

Yoga is the best for quieting the mind, I agree. But I'm too cheap to pay $20 a session. I have some good DVDs, so maybe I'll do those this week.

Unknown said...

Great idea to reduce the stress!