Cleaning the Mind

One may often feel that one's smarts fluctuates from one day to another, perhaps even from one hour to another. While this may be a result of one's diet or one's natural tendencies, sometimes it is merely the result of the simple businesses of one's day. More than just simple fatigue, sometimes the mind can also get dirty.

During the course of a long day, one may begin to feel that one's mind has gotten heavier; simple things seem harder to do, certain words may be missed, certain things to do may be forgotten and other thoughts may slip one's mind. When this happens, it is because the mental detritus of the day has piled up and has begun to weigh down the mind.

Like the body, the mind gets dirty as it goes through the business of the day. Conversations with people, work-related issues, the words and opinions of others, mental challenges - dealing with all of these and more forces the mind to make an effort, and with all of the effort exerted it cannot help but get clogged up and cruddy.

Aside from the usual connotations of a dirty mind, external thoughts and ideas have a tendency to cling to us. While the mind grows more fertile by being exposed to opposing views and ideas, there are mental objects that serve no other purpose than cling to one's mind and weigh it down.

When this happens, one would benefit from a good mind-cleaning. 'Mental dirt' left unchecked can pile up and thicken, limiting the mind's efficiency.

While this may sound borderline crazy, a good mind cleaning is in fact a very common activity for some. People have their particular ways of cleaning the mind, of just refreshing it. Common to all of these activities is their ability to lull and relax the mind, and to provide a neutral outlet for one's mental faculties. Like a quick shower or a hot bath, a mental cleaning freshens the mind and allows it function at optimal levels.

It can be a short nap. It can be a coffee break. It can be listening to music, or washing the dishes, tending to one's garden, a jog or a walk. Some even find that a pleasant and casual conversation with a good friend can refresh the mind.

Whatever one does, it is often best to refresh the mind in the middle of the day, or whenever one feels that one's mind is getting foggy.