- Focusing on solving the problem, not the negative emotions.
In stressful situations, your mind often gets distracted by negative emotions—fear, anxiety, or frustration. However, one of the most effective habits that helps maintain mental clarity is focusing on solving the problem, not the emotions it triggers. When you start concentrating on practical steps to resolve the situation, your energy shifts from worry to constructive action. This helps reduce stress levels because you stop feeling helpless and started actively addressing the issue. When you manage to focus on solving any problem, even a very complex one, your brain begins to find effective ways to reach the right solution.
- Counting to 10.
When emotions start a taking over and stress begin to build up, simply stop and count to ten. This simple method allows you to quickly switch your attention from obsessive thoughts to a physical action, which helps calm your mind. Each breath you take while counting helps to relieve tension, and the process of focusing on the numbers helps to restore emotional balance. This method helps not only in times of stress, but also in conflict situations when you need to remain calm and prevent impulsive decisions. Regular use of this practice will teach you to control your emotions in challenging situations, allowing you to act more thoughtfully and confidently.
- Walking outdoors.
A walk in the fresh air allows you to “reset” your mind and return to harmony. Even if it’s just a stroll in a park or along the waterfront, you’ll immediately feel a calming effect. Light, fresh air, and movement help reduced stress levels, improve blood circulation, and stimulate the production of endorphins—the “feel-good” hormones. During the walk, your brain has the opportunity to clear itself of negative thoughts, which helps you maintain clarity and make more rational decisions. This is simple, yet effective method allows you to restore inner peace, especially when a situation feels challenging or overly emotional. Therefore, if you have a difficult stressful situation in your life that requires considerable effort to resolve, pause and go for a walk. It is better to walk alone so that no one disturbs you with their questions or stories about their lives. This way, you can fully enjoy the sounds of nature, which have been shown to have a calming effect and improve mental clarity.
- Writing down all negative thoughts on paper.
It is a powerful tool for managing stress and maintaining mental clarity in stressful situations. As you write down all the negative thoughts on paper, your emotions will be released, and as a result, you will be able to look at the problem objectively and your thoughts will be less chaotic. Afterwards, you often feel a sense of relief and your brain is able to find solutions or alternatives. As this method works on a psychological level: it allows you to distance yourself from emotions and gain control over them. So, whenever you feel like you can’t sort out your thoughts, just take out a pen and paper and write down everything that’s bothering you. This simple step can be the beginning of a problem-solving process, helping you to maintain clarity of thought and calmness even in the most stressful situations.
- Solving crosswords.
This type of mental activity not only improves intellectual ability, but also helps to maintain mental clarity by enhancing overall cognitive function. As you think logically and sequentially while solving a puzzle, it is an ideal way to redirect your attention from negative thoughts to more constructive and positive tasks. Moreover, it’s an easy and accessible activity that can be done at any moment, regardless of where you are. So, when you feel nervous, simply open an online puzzle and start solving it for about 10 minutes. This will help you quickly organize your thoughts and start finding the right solutions to different situations.
In addition, if you need to improve mental clarity and concentration fast (e.g for several hours), take Artvigil or Armod.