Make 2018 the year of mental clarity and appreciation.

Start with gratitude.

Often, we get caught up in our to-do lists and inboxes. We reserve little time to reflect on the day’s happenings, and so we fill downtime with thoughts of wants and needs. Likewise, emotional struggles tend to take precedence over the power of positivity. To counter this, start with what you’re grateful for. Gratitude lists are an excellent way to shift your focus off what you don’t have, and onto the things that you do possess: a roof over your head, enough food, a working car. Whatever it is, be sure you’re mentally identifying it first. Even putting pen to paper before you get out of bed in the morning can help align your gratitude in a way that sets you up for positive thinking all day long.

Visualization

Paired with mindful breathing (long, deep breaths), visualization can be a powerful tool for building mental strength. Try it by setting a calendar reminder for 10 minutes every day. Give yourself permission to do nothing but rest for those ten minutes. Close your eyes and visualize a special place, action, or outcome and begin to “see” it into focus. Take time to observe your surroundings. Visualize the view, the temperature of the air, and the way it makes you feel.
When you return to the present moment, you’ll have a refreshed sense of energy and with your goals freshly ingrained into your memory, you’ll be ready to take the next step in getting you across the finish line.

Savoring

There’s lots of discussion lately about the importance of mindfulness. What often gets overlooked is an extension of mindfulness that is equally important: the art of savoring. Savoring is just about slowing down. Did you enjoy your breakfast this morning, or did you simply ingest it in a routine motion that has become a daily habit? Scientists believe that savoring flavors, smells, textures, and colors can actually boost your mood.
Looking to improve your ability to process, store, and retrieve information? Head to tb12.brainhq.com and sign up for cognitive conditioning that takes less than five minutes, so you can train in small bites or long blocks, depending on your schedule. If you want, you can set personal training goals and a schedule, and have the program send you reminders, or, you can just fit it into those unexpected down times, on whichever device is at hand.