Quieting an Overactive Mind That's Always "Busy"

So what can you do about a busy mind without feeling like you’re falling behind (which is enough to stress anyone out)?

Let’s explore the ins and outs of working with an overactive mind that’s always “busy” from some common causes to rituals you can adopt for potential relief.

What Causes an Overactive Mind?

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An overactive mind can be a source of major problems. It can make each day difficult to manage productively. Maybe your busy mind turns you into an A+ procrastinator? Do you find yourself working on a little bit for a lot of tasks but fully completing almost nothing?

Quieting an overactive mind stems from identifying the catalyst. Having a busy mind as an adult doesn’t necessarily mean you’re suffering from ADHD (though a healthcare professional will be able to determine this), but it may be a possible indicator of a few other mental health concerns such as anxiety, stress, or depression.

It could potentially also be a sign of potential post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). As we mentioned above, please lean on health care professionals that are experts with the above if you're really struggling to get a handle on an inattentive or overactive brain.

In today’s world, another factor for an overactive mind that may surprise you is all the tech that surrounds us.

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Being connected can be great, but daily increased amounts of screen time with blue light exposure, feeling the need to respond to multiple conversations at once, or having major FOMO are all modern potential causes of a busy mind. 

Trying to Figure Out How to Calm the Mind Down? Try These Methods

Ok, time to get to the good stuff so you can chill out your busy mind. Let’s take a look at a few different ways that may help:

• Focus on the now, not the past or future
• Breathing techniques for calming a busy mind
• Trying overactive mind meditation remedies
• Potential calming effects when combining CBD with certain activities
  

Learn How to Focus Your Mind

For some people racing thoughts and an overactive mind stem from things that have already happened or things that might not have even happened yet (and may never). Our first technique for how to calm the mind down is focusing on the now.

Instead of focusing on things you may not be able to change or worrying about something that may not even happen, take a deep breath and think about what is going on in the moment.

What can you do to accomplish a task now?

What can you control at this point in time?

Answers to those questions will give you a great place to start.

You can also find fun activities for help quieting an overactive mind. For example, adult coloring books engage both sides of your brain for focusing and communication. This can be a great activity to focus your mind on the *now* and keep you from thinking too much on events past or the future.

Calming a Busy Mind with Breathing Techniques

Speaking of taking a deep breath, there are a number of breathing techniques for calming a busy mind you can try, as well. Slow, deep breaths can reduce your body’s natural response to stress (which is an increase in cortisol levels) and help bring on a sense of calm.

Mental Health America has published a breathing exercise that may be beneficial for quieting an overactive mind:

• Breathe in deeply as you slowly count to five
• Hold this breath for a few seconds
• Exhale slowly for five seconds

This simple breathing technique may seem very basic, but it’s also an easy task you can do just about anywhere at any time to calm your busy mind.

For something more extensive, you can also check out the Wimhof Method.

Overactive Mind Meditation Remedies

Another method for quieting an overactive mind is with meditation. Meditation has been shown to help manage stress levels, elevate mood, and even be potentially beneficial for pain relief, as well. With so many different techniques out there, you can certainly find an overactive mind meditation practice that works for you.

One of the more important aspects of meditating to calm the mind is making it part of a daily ritual. We’re creatures of habit, so turning meditation into a daily ritual can help your mind relax more consistently. To potentially elevate your experience to the next level, consider combining CBD and meditation to see how they might work together for you.

CBD Rituals to Help Support an Overactive Mind

Including CBD in your daily rituals may also help with an overactive mind. Adding your favorite CBD tincture (we know of a really great mint broad spectrum CBD tincture or full spectrum CBD tincture you could try) to a morning cup of coffee or making another CBD drink recipe may give you the mental boost you need to focus throughout your day.

Want a little help from a CBD calming effect in the afternoon? CBD gummies are easy to take and may help give you some mental clarity as your day continues. If you really want to take your relaxation to the next level during the hotter months, you can try a CBD summer drink to beat the heat while relaxing poolside, enjoying a picnic, or even hanging solo.

How to Stop an Overactive Mind at Night

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How many times have you sat in bed trying to go to sleep and your mind just isn’t having it? An overactive mind at night can be a common cause of insomnia and stress. Starting a relaxing night time ritual can help your mind and body unwind before bed and help you get better sleep quality.

Your night time ritual can be anything you like. A favorite of our’s is writing in a daily guided journal. It’s an easy way to get your thoughts focused before bed and put yourself in a positive mindset.

Studies have shown that making a to-do list or writing your worries out before bed is another way to get those thoughts out of your mind and help with how to stop an overactive mind at night from keeping you awake.

Some other favorite night time rituals of our’s include self care activities like:

• Enjoying a warm beverage (decaffeinated, of course ☕️ unless you like to live on the wild side, and in that case we can’t help you. 🙈)
• Taking a relaxing bath to de-stress from your day
• Meditating before bed to center your mind and focus on the present
• Listening to calming music (music around 60 BPM are ideal for relaxation and sleep)
• Coloring. We compiled a list of the best adult coloring books for you to try out.

Regardless of your preferred method for how to stop an overactive mind at night, you’ll benefit from cutting out blue light exposure and screen time at least 60 to 90 minutes before bed.

This gives your brain a chance to calm down and prepare for sleep.

(If you haven’t yet, check out our *free* sleep guide 👇🏼)

Project Sleep: How to Improve Sleep With Habits and Rituals

We hope you’ve learned more about working with an overactive mind that’s always “busy”.” We know it can be an ongoing struggle and you’re certainly not alone.

A few adjustments in your daily rituals like adding breathing exercises, meditating, coloring, or trying CBD products may make a huge difference in how you feel.

Have some more questions about CBD and its uses? Check out our guides to help you understand more on the potential benefits of CBD for your lifestyle:

• What is CBD? A Q&A Guide For the CBD Curious
• Different Types of CBD? Broad Spectrum, Full Spectrum, Isolate
• Common CBD Questions