Mid-Week Mental Reset: Psychologist Recommends Underestimated 10-Minute Trick to Reboot

Starting

the week strong, especially with all the self-help reels clogging social media, is potentially something you've either aced, or made peace with. Now if you're someone who lives out their weekdays in anticipation of the weekends - the opposite of it is easier said than done - the mid-week dip in motivation and dopamine something that often goes overlooked. Ms. Arpita Kohli, Psychologist & Counsellor at PSRI Hospital, shares this week's reset technique - as overlooked as the problem it's targeting. But it works!

10 minutes to reboot

The answer lies in your breath. Ms. Kohli shares: "One effective technique is slow, controlled breathing, such as box breathing where you inhale, hold, exhale, and pause for equal counts. This can be done anywhere in just a few minutes and helps bring immediate calm. Focusing on the breath shifts attention away from overwhelming thoughts and anchors the mind in the present moment."Honouring your breath isn't 'woo woo' at all. As a matter of fact, it's backed by science. Ms. Kohli explains: "Neurologically, this works by calming the brain’s stress response. When a person feels overwhelmed, the body goes into a heightened state of alert, releasing stress hormones. Slow breathing activates the body’s relaxation system, reducing this stress response and helping the thinking part of the brain regain control. Psychologically, it creates a sense of pause and control, making situations feel more manageable."

What is the biggest mistake you're making when trying to ‘reset’ your mind quickly?

As corny as it sounds, it's exactly what Billy Joel was going on and on about, in his song Vienna: 'Slow down, you're doing fine'(!)And Ms. Kohli agrees: "The biggest mistake is trying to force a quick mental reset by overthinking or immediately pushing themselves to be productive. When the mind is already overwhelmed, jumping straight into problem-solving or trying to 'think positive' often makes things worse."Also, fast tracking any kind of healing, or any attempt to swiftly undo damage, is more counter-productive than anything else. The box breathing method won't relieve you of your burdens or make the weekend arrive any faster. What it will do however, is calm your mind, leaving you better equipped to deal with anything and everything on your plate.Ms. Kohli concludes, "Another common mistake is expecting instant results. A quick reset is meant to calm the mind, not completely remove stress in seconds. When expectations are unrealistic, it can lead to frustration. A better approach is to first slow down, regulate emotions, and then gradually return to tasks with a clearer mind."