Karen Brown Tyson

Tag: #mind

Mental Wellness Check: 7 Effective Ways to Clear Your Mind Fast

My mind is racing from the time I get up until I go to bed. Unfortunately, my mind sometimes feels weary during my busiest days. Instead of taking a break to practice mental wellness, I often push through the day.

Thankfully, it didn’t take long to see how this habit could lead to an unhealthy pathway for my mental health.

Does my business need me? Yes.

👉🏽 But so does my well-being.

👉🏽 So does my mental health.

👉🏽 And so does my family.

As a result, I proactively look for opportunities to practice mental wellness. According to the Global Wellness Institute, mental wellness is “an internal resource that helps us think, feel, connect and function; it is an active process that helps us to build resilience, grow and flourish.”

In this post, I outline seven effective ways I practice mental wellness to clear my mind fast. If there’s something that you do that’s not on the list, please share it in the comments.

Practice deep breathing exercises for a few minutes.

One of the most powerful ways to relax is through breathing exercises. Taking a few moments each day to sit down, close my eyes, and focus on my breath helps bring clarity and calmness back into my life. I don’t need any special equipment or complicated instructions. All I need is a quiet place to sit comfortably for 10 minutes. This simple practice can help ease stress, improve concentration, and enhance physical health.

Take walks and exercise.

Getting away from my desk and taking a quick walk or doing some physical exercise gives my mind a much-needed break. Doing something physical helps release endorphins, boosting your mood and making you feel better. Plus, getting outside and enjoying nature is always beneficial for mental health.

Listen to calming music or nature sounds.

Music has been known to have healing qualities. It helps calm my mind, soothe my soul, and makes me feel better mentally. Whether it’s classical or instrumental songs, put on some headphones and let the sounds relax you.

Journal my thoughts and worries to clear my mind.

Writing down thoughts and feelings in a journal helps me process my emotions. Sometimes I write one sentence, and other times; I write three pages. Ultimately, writing down whatever comes into my head is incredibly therapeutic.

Take time out for biblical meditation.

For me, there’s nothing like taking a few minutes to meditate on God’s Word through biblical meditation. By taking extra moments out of each day to reflect more deeply upon Scripture, we can open our eyes wider and hearts deeper, allowing us better access to what is being said between verses.

Write positive affirmations.

Creating positive affirmations is another great way to clear your mind. For example, I write sentences that promote positive thinking, such as “I am capable” or “I am worthy.” Then, I read them aloud several times throughout the day, as they help boost my self-confidence while also helping me break free from any negative thought patterns trying to limit my potential.

Exercise gratitude.

Gratitude is one of the most powerful tools we can use to refresh our minds – it increases happiness, reduces anxiety, strengthens relationships, and encourages us to be kinder toward ourselves and others around us. There are many ways to approach this, but I like to write down three things I’m grateful for daily – this helps shift my focus toward the positive aspects of life instead of letting myself get bogged down by worries or stresses.

Self-care is important whether you work for yourself, take care of a busy household, or go into an office daily. I’m offering some FREE self-care worksheets to help you take a few moments for yourself.

It took me a while to recognize the importance of practicing mental wellness to remain focused, creative, and balanced. For this reason, I’ve prioritized creating time for rest, relaxation, and self-care every day.

I have learned that taking mental breaks can bring real, lasting balance leading to better health and improved relationships. I’m practicing mental wellness when I take breaks from my daily activities to journal, exercise, or listen to music.

How do you practice mental wellness? Let me know in the comments below.

Together let’s work on creating a path of emotional well-being that can guide us on our journey of success while keeping balance and harmony in today’s busy world.

March 21, 2023
30 Writing Prompts to Calm Your Mind at the End of the Day
Writing is an essential part of being a creative entrepreneur, especially for writers who write all the time. For this reason, it is so important to unwind mentally. Therefore, I need to calm my creative mind by writing in my notebook or journal at the end of the day.

But I haven’t always operated this way.

I can remember when I never gave my creative brain the attention it needed, let alone time to unwind at the end of the day. I worked day and sometimes night writing and using my creativity to help others meet their goals or fulfill their dreams. Don’t get me wrong; I wasn’t a reluctant participant. With everything project I worked on, I was in it to win it. But, there were times when I didn’t take the time to collect my thoughts before going to bed.

Then, one day, I came across this Scripture:

Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. (Mark 6:31)

This Scripture reminded me that it’s okay to relax and rest. But, it also reminds me that I can depend on the one who “does not slumber or sleep.” (Psalm 121:4).

Thankfully, things are different now. My type-A, all-in, don’t-stop-til-you-drop personality knows the importance of having a wind-down routine.

Today, as part of my beautiful, creative life, I embrace downtime. I intentionally make time to calm my creative mind at the end of the day.

So, to help any writer or creative entrepreneur in need of a wind-down routine or journal prompts, I thought I would share a few things working for me. I pray that these ideas will inspire you to look for opportunities to calm your creative mind at the end of each day.

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you purchase using the links.

What is a wind-down routine?

A wind-down routine is a set of activities you perform in the same order, at the end of every workday. Wind-down routines or habits can vary and include any calming activity that helps you transition from work to relaxation, like taking a walk, cooking, reading, or journaling.

How can a wind-down routine help calm the mind?

People are creatures of habit. As with any other routine, a wind-down routine helps our brains recognize when it’s time to transition from work mode to relaxation mode. By performing the same calming activities in a set order at the end of each workday, your brain sees these steps as a signal to leave work behind. A wind-down routine doesn’t have to be complicated and can include just a few simple activities.

Why is journaling a good wind-down activity?

When left unchecked, anxious thoughts can activate our sympathetic nervous system. Have you ever noticed that you sometimes can’t get certain things out of your mind despite your best efforts? For example, I can’t tell you how many times I laid awake at night thinking about what happened earlier at work. I needed a wind-down routine that helped me tame my thoughts.

Journaling at the end of the day helps me sort out my thoughts. Most of the time, I reflect on what I accomplished. But I also jot down my thoughts on things that could have improved my business or new ideas to explore. Of course, the amount of time you spend journaling is up to you. If journaling (see also ‘What Is A Junk Journal?‘) doesn’t work for you, try writing down a to-do list or your daily goals for the next day. Knowing what you need to tackle when you return to work the next day can also help calm the mind.

30 Writing Prompts To Help Calm Your Creative Mind

Click here to download the printable version
1. What was your morning like?
2. How did you provide value to the world today?
3. What were your accomplishments today? (no matter how small).
4. What challenges did you encounter today?
5. What emotions did you experience today that you liked? Write about the feelings you didn’t like?
6. How do you feel about any problems that came up today?
7. Complete this sentence honestly – “Right now, I am …” (fill in the blank). Then finish the sentence, “Tomorrow, I want to be ….”
8. If you had to pick one word to describe your day, what would it be?
9. Ask yourself the question, “what is something I want more of in my life, and how can I get it?”
10. Remember a time when you positively impacted someone’s life and how it made you feel.
11. Have a solid heart-to-heart talk with your most prominent critic, your inner you. Then, don’t be afraid to shoot down all the criticism with your successes.
12. Write down five to ten things that you are grateful for today.
13. What are two things about your business or creative life that you love?
14. Choose two aspects of your creative life you want to improve.
15. Write a quick note (see also ‘What Are The Best Pens For Note Taking?‘) to your future self. Congratulate yourself on all your wins over the years.
16. Write about one thing that happened today that you wish you could do-over.
17. Make a list of how you would spend a day doing what makes you feel excited, happy, engaged, or fulfilled.
18. Write down everything that made you angry today, then tear up the list.
19. Write about any new ideas you want to try.
20. Make a list of things you want to do as part of your “me-time” moments.
21. Describe the perfect vacation and write a plan of action to make it happen.
22. Ask yourself how you can release fears that are holding you back from living your best creative life.
23. Write about how you overcame past challenges.
24. Think back to the best advice you have received and how you can apply it now.
25. Write about plans or things you’re looking forward to doing this year.
26. Describe in detail your ideal place for maximum relaxation.
27. Write a quick goodbye note to any fears that held you back today.
28. Write yourself a quick note of apology for anything you’re struggling to let go of.
29. Whom did you connect with today that made you feel valued, supported, or loved?
30. What are you looking forward to tomorrow?
September 23, 2021
30 Ways to Help You Reset Your Creative Time, Mind and Soul

Since starting my business in 2018, I have been going nonstop. My days have been filled with client meetings, freelance assignments, speaking engagements, writing books, teaching classes, and community service. I’m grateful for everything God leads me to do. My public relations, corporate, and marketing communications background has helped me develop creative ways to grow my business. But lately, it seemed like my beautiful, creative life was moving into overdrive. By the time I reached August 2021, my creative time, mind, and soul were running on fumes.

As someone all about continuous improvement, I decided to use some of my Lean Six Sigma training. From my days in corporate America, I learned to use Lean Six Sigma to make things better. So, how was I going to improve my creative time, mind, and soul? I decided to hit the reset button (one of my favorite things to do).

While I was on a business retreat, I challenged myself to do one of three things: 1) Keep the habits I know work for me, 2) Return to the habits I stopped doing, or 3) try some new things for 30 days. This process helped me reset my creative time, mind, and soul while helping me find new sanity-saving routines.

Since I strongly believe in Hebrews 10:24:

We should think about each other to see how we can encourage each other to show love and do good works.

I thought I would share some of the ideas I came up with for myself and add a few to give you 30 ways to reset your creative time, mind, and soul, too. My prayer is that these ideas will inspire you to add something different to your creative life.

Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you purchase using the links.

Ways to Reset Your Creative Mind

Adjust your thinking every day.

The way you think can affect many things in your life, including how you work. For example, holding onto negative thoughts or replaying bad memories can put a damper on your mindset. So at the start of each day, adjust your thinking to focus on positive thoughts.

Read 5 pages each day.

Reading 5 pages a day is a great way to relax. But remember…if you don’t like to read, try audiobooks!

Exercise your brain.

Give your brain a break from work. Exercise your brain by learning a new language, playing games, and taking a cooking class.

Take a walk.

Going for a walk isn’t just good for the body; it’s also great for the mind. It can help improve your mood and let you clear your head at night after a stressful day.

Allow yourself to make changes in your day.

When you feel like something is off with your day, take a moment to reflect on what that might be. Then, whatever it is, permit yourself to change things up.

Schedule regular “me-time” moments.

You deserve to take a break from your hectic schedule. So make sure you have the time to relax and unwind every day.

Keep a self-care journal.

It’s important to make sure you’re taking care of yourself. I recommend keeping a journal and writing down your feelings regularly. This will help you feel better and think more clearly throughout the day.

Schedule regular breaks to unplug.

It’s important to schedule regular breaks throughout your workday to help you stay focused.

Close your eyes for 30 seconds.

You should close your eyes for about thirty seconds. It’s an easy way to relax and reduce stress.

Step away from social media one day per week.

I recommend that you give yourself a break from social media every once in a while. I do it once a week, and it really helps me stay focused.

Ways to Reset Your Creative Soul

Schedule moments of silence and solitude.

One technique I use to keep balanced is creating moments of silence and solitude. Taking time out every day for focused reflection helps reduce stress, making me more productive.

Meditate on Scripture.

Scripture meditation is an excellent way to quiet your mind and rest in the presence of God.



Surround yourself with positive affirmations.

I think the best way to achieve your goals is by surrounding yourself with positive affirmations. That’s why I created a list of my own, and I hang it on my wall so that they’re always in front of me.



Find a way to encourage someone daily.

One of the best ways to nurture your creative soul is by encouraging others. So keep an eye out for opportunities to pat others on the back or make someone smile!

Help someone in need.

Consider volunteering. Not only will you be helping someone in need, but you could also make a new friend and improve your community.

Create a wind-down routine.

It’s important to set aside time each day to decompress from work. Even if you only have a few minutes, it can make a big difference in your mental health and well-being. Try doing something you enjoy, like taking a hot bath, listening to music, or reading a book.



Warm yourself with a cup of tea.

A nice cup of tea is always soothing. If you find yourself feeling stressed, try some chamomile flowers or mint leaves for a calming effect.

Record your thoughts in a gratitude journal.

Keeping a gratitude journal is important because it will help you appreciate the little things in life.



Remove clutter from your work and living spaces.

Clutter can make even the most organized person feel disorganized. Not only does it take up your space, but it could also be a distraction! However, cleaning your home and workspace is a great way to feel refreshed. You can start by purging the items you don’t need and then organize what’s left.

Dream BIG!

The best way to take care of your creative soul is by dreaming big. Make time in your day to think of all the possibilities that are out there for you. If you need an inspiring book, consider Bob Goff’s book, Dream Big: Know What You Want, Why You Want It, and What You’re Going to Do About It.

Ways to Reset Your Creative Time

Work on your most creative and fulfilling projects when your energy level is high.

I am a morning person. I wake up every day around 4 a.m. to begin my day. My problem is that I have been trying to work all day and half the night. As you can imagine, I start to lose steam by 7 or 8 p.m. So instead of spreading my creative projects over the day, I set aside a certain amount of hours each morning. I’m using my afternoons for non-creative tasks, meetings, and emails.

Focus on 3 daily goals instead of monthly goals.

Although I have a planner that outlines my monthly goals, I’ve been using daily goals to make it through each day. Using a combination of notebooks and Post-It Notes, I write out my 3 most important daily goals each morning.

Build a habit of single-tasking

In my attempt to do as much in a day as possible, I fell into the trap of multitasking. Instead of getting more done, it only left me feeling overwhelmed. So, using my PomoDone App, I switched to single-tasking by focusing on one task at a time.

Adopt the time-blocking method

Time blocking is a technique used to plan out every moment of your day in advance and dedicate specific time blocks for certain tasks or responsibilities. Once I started time blocking, I felt more control over my time and the tasks I needed to complete.

Batch email time

Nothing kills your creative time like email. Don’t get me wrong; I love email. But when I found myself reading every email as it popped into my inbox, I knew I had a problem. So, I decided to schedule the times when I would read and respond to my emails. Then, outside of my scheduled time, I turned my email off to avoid interruptions.

Start a creativity journal.

The best way to ensure that you stay inspired and creative is by journaling. The process of writing ideas down will help you keep track of the concepts, and it allows for reflection, which can serve as inspiration in future challenges.

Switch up your work environment.

To focus better, don’t be afraid to move to a different work environment. Clear out distractions like clutter and use sounds, light, plants to help guide your attention in the right direction.

Don’t let productivity kill your creativity.

Productivity is vital in any business, but don’t let that stand in your way of being creative. If a cluttered desk or work table helps you think and works for you, don’t feel the need to change. Instead, focus on surrounding yourself with the things you need to keep your creative juices flowing.

Make time to daydream.

I can remember when people would say, Get your head out of the clouds! While this statement was meant to stop people from daydreaming, the clouds may be the perfect place for creative entrepreneurs—schedule time to daydream or brainstorm new ideas or products.

Test your ideas.

As your ideas move from daydreams to actual products, make time to test your ideas. With each test, you will be inspired to make changes and keep moving forward.

How have you reset your creative mind, soul, and time?

September 9, 2021
7 Important Truths to Help You Renew Your Mind

Updated May 2021 — It’s easy to let negative self-talk overtake your mind. ‘Am I good enough?‘ ‘Am I smart enough?‘ ‘Am I pretty enough?‘ The list of doubts and fears can go on, but you get the idea. With negative self-talk, you’re never good enough. But here are seven important truths to help you renew your mind.

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using the links.

A fresh start begins with a new mind.

The key to freeing our minds from negative self-talk starts with Romans 12:2.

Once we offer ourselves to God, our world is altered. In Romans 12:2, Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own experience how his ways will really satisfy you.

Paul urges us not to give in to a world system that leaves God out. Instead, we must renew our minds by surrendering to God’s way of thinking. In renewing my mind, I discovered seven truths that I apply to my life.

#1. A renewed mind resists negative thoughts.

A renewed mind makes a conscious decision to think like Christ. Rather than allowing negative self-talk to take control, I’ve learned to merge my thoughts with God’s thoughts. God never tells us we’re not good enough. Instead, 1 Corinthians 2:16 tells us that, as followers of Christ, we have within us a portion of the very thoughts and mind of Christ.

#2. A renewed mind requires action.

The renewing of the mind doesn’t happen by accident. In Romans 12:2, Paul makes it clear that real transformation of the mind takes effort. Whenever I start to think negative thoughts, I quickly start to focus on the opposite of my negative thoughts. Instead of thinking, I’m not good enough for the assignment, I start thanking God for choosing me for the assignment.

#3. A renewed mind embraces change.

One thing we can all count on is change. Unfortunately, change sometimes triggers fear and anxiety. But not all change is bad. A renewed mind sees change as an opportunity. Instead of seeing my job layoff as something bad, I embraced it as a new opportunity from heaven. As a result, I started my business, Constant Communicators, and became an author.

#4. A renewed mind doesn’t dwell on disappointments.

Life doesn’t always go the way we want. A renewed mind accepts life’s challenges, then looks for the bright side in every dark situation. In the moments after hearing the news that my job would end, I made one of the most important decisions of my life. I turned to God. At that moment, I believed that if God allowed my job to end, then he had something better planned for me.

#5. A renewed mind adopts a growth mindset.

A person with a growth mindset believes they can improve their skills through learning and hard work. A renewed mind is not afraid to try new things. To transition to my new life beyond corporate America, I studied blogging and content marketing. I revisited what I learn in grad school about literary nonfiction (see also ‘What Is Narrative Nonfiction?‘) and other types of writing. I immediately started exploring how to build an author platform and how to build engagement on social media.

#6. A renewed mind isn’t afraid to let go.

Sometimes things don’t work out. A renewed mind isn’t afraid to say goodbye to a negative relationship or a toxic friendship that isn’t working. At the same hour, I learned the company was letting me go; I decided to let my employer go, too. Not from a place of bitterness or anger. But from a place of peace.

#7. A renewed mind speaks life into others.

Everyone can benefit from an encouraging word. In writing my books, I hope to inspire people to move forward. As you continue to grow, share words of wisdom with others.

How will you renew your mind?

I hope my list inspires you to develop a new mindset through positive thinking.

I’d love to help you as you take the next steps in your writing life. To get started, complete this form to let me know about your current nonfiction writing project and needs.

May 1, 2021