The average person has about 12,000 to 60,000 thoughts per day with 95% being the same repetitive thoughts as the day before.

Have you ever noticed yourself continually repeating the same thoughts over and over? You become caught up in a cycle of repetition with the same or a variety of other stuck thoughts.

You may have unsuccessfully proceeded to try and interrupt, challenge, or distract these stuck thoughts without much success.

This involuntary and ineffective thinking style rarely if ever helps us to gain better clarity or insight into our problems. It just takes us around in a loop perpetuating our confusion.

What causes us to enter this repetitive state?

Many independent studies have found that people tend to think more when they are under stress. A repetitive cycle can occur as we try to mentally focus on a solution and inadvertently begin a pattern of obsessive thinking. Stress also influences our working memory and affects our ability to produce more practical thinking strategies.

How can we stop this cycle of repetitive thinking?

As this is more commonly a stress response the most effective solution is to address our hyper stimulated state by reducing stress and anxiety levels.

5 ways to calm your mind:

1.     Movement: walking, dancing, exercise

2.     Change Focus: Guided meditation, uplifting movies, reading

3.     Practice Mindfulness: Bring your attention to the NOW, consciously experience the present, connect with where you are in this moment

4.     Access your right brain: Draw, paint, play

5.     Breathe: Deeply, consciously, connect with your breath, use it to progressively relax all muscle groups