Bridge to Wellness

Give Your Brain A Break: The Power of a Quick Meditation

by Kathy Walz, LMSW, CPC

In the short time of a mindful moment, we can slow down, take a deep breath and experience a quick mental burst of gratitude. Photo credit: Motoki Tonn at unsplash.com

Spring is here! The birds are chirping, flowers are blooming, and it seems like we have been waiting a long time for this. If you’ve taken a minute to notice the green surroundings or the music in the trees, then you have experienced a mindful moment.

These moments can be helpful to our mental health in many ways. They help us be present and appreciate what is going on at that very moment. They also give our brains a break from the many thoughts that occupy the space — if only for a moment. In the short time of a mindful moment, we can slow down, take a deep breath and experience a quick mental burst of gratitude. It may be a surprise to many that even this short amount of time can make a difference in our mental health.

Often, people are hesitant when mindfulness is mentioned as a preventative mental health tool. “I don’t have time for that” … “That sounds complicated” … “Where would I even start?” are comments heard frequently. Our phones provide access to many good applications to help introduce us to the concept of mindfulness (CALM, Headspace, Breath2Relax, to name a few), but we don’t have to download an app to give our minds a break.

One of my favorite places to be is on a beach with the sand between my toes, feeling the sun shining down on my face with the sound of the waves and seagulls in the background. Can you picture it? Yes! Then you just had a mindful moment — and a visualization of a mini vacation in your mind. The amazing thing is, if you close your eyes, you can take this mini vacation and use it any time you need a break from your endless to-do lists. Try it — it’s like a deep breath for your brain!

This column is sponsored by the Stockbridge Area Wellness Coalition (SAWC). Kathy Walz is the Behavioral Health Navigator at Chelsea Hospital. For more information visit Chelseahospital.org.