Can't Switch off? Why a Mindful Moment is More Than Just an Hour of Relaxation

You deserve a regular opportunity to switch off from stress, relieve anxiety and promote better sleep. When life feels busy, stressful or overwhelming, finding time for yourself can easily slip to the bottom of the list.

There is always something else that needs doing. Another email to answer, another job to finish, another person who needs your attention. Even when you finally close the laptop or get into bed, your mind can carry on working overtime.

Perhaps you recognise that feeling of being physically tired but mentally wide awake. Or maybe you find yourself worrying about things that haven't happened yet, replaying things that have already happened, or simply feeling as though you can't quite switch off.

You might know that taking some time for yourself would probably help, but then comes the question: When? And how?

This is one of the reasons I've created my Monthly Mindful Moment online wellbeing session designed to give you some dedicated time to pause, breathe, reset and, importantly, give your mind the opportunity to make some positive adjustments too.

Because this isn't simply an hour of meditation or relaxation...

Time to pause, breathe and reset your mind and body.

As a hypnotherapist and evidence-based sleep and stress consultant, I see the connection between our thoughts, our feelings, our stress levels and our ability to switch off. Sometimes we don't just need to relax our bodies; we need to give our minds a chance to step out of the patterns that keep us feeling tense, worried or overwhelmed.

And if the words online group have made you hesitate, you aren't alone. So, let's talk about some of the things you might be wondering.

“I'm already on screens all day. Do I really want another Zoom session?”

It's a fair question.

After the experience of 2020, many of us became very familiar with video calls. What once felt novel quickly became another part of everyday life, and for some people, screen fatigue is very real.

But there is a difference between spending an hour on a video call talking about work, catching up on emails or sitting through a meeting, and deliberately setting aside an hour to do something that helps you slow down and reset.

The intention is different.

You don't have to perform, achieve or be productive. You don't need to have the right answers. For this session, you don’t even have to have your camera on. This is an opportunity to step away from the constant demands of the day and give yourself some space to pause and look at things differently.

Sometimes, doing less is exactly what we need.

And sometimes, when we create that space, our minds are able to do some useful work of their own.

“Is this just another mindfulness or meditation class?”

No – and this is an important distinction.

Mindfulness and meditation can be wonderful tools, and elements of mindful awareness and relaxation may be part of our time together. But the Monthly Mindful Moment goes beyond relaxation.

Relaxation is the starting point, but the benefits go much further.

When the mind is constantly busy or on alert, it can become very easy to get caught up in the same thoughts, worries and assumptions. We can find ourselves looking at situations from the same perspective because that's the perspective our mind has become accustomed to taking.

Getting into a calm and peaceful state opens up an opportunity to create some space to see and feel things differently.

Through guided exercises drawn from my experience as a hypnotherapist and evidence-based sleep and stress consultant, I'll help you explore ways of shifting your focus, perspectives and internal responses.

You might find yourself looking at something differently.

You might notice a thought that no longer needs quite so much attention.

You might discover a more helpful way of responding to something that has been occupying your mind.

There isn't a single adjustment that everyone needs to make. That's the interesting thing about working with the mind – we are all individuals, and what feels useful or meaningful for one person may be completely different for another.

The aim is to create the conditions for your mind to make the adjustments that are right for you.

“I'm not very good at mindfulness.”

Good news – you don't have to be!

The Mindful Moment Hour isn't a traditional mindfulness meditation session where you're expected to empty your mind, sit perfectly still or achieve some state of inner peace. In fact, trying to stop your thoughts altogether can sometimes feel like just another thing to get right!

Our minds are wonderfully busy places, and thoughts will naturally come and go.

Instead, we'll use focused attention to give your mind a break from the constant stream of thoughts, worries and distractions. By gently directing your attention in a different way, you can create some space to rest, reset and become more open to positive change.

It's not about switching your mind off. It's about learning to switch your attention – away from the things that may be keeping you tense or overwhelmed and towards something more helpful.

As an Advanced Skills Hypnotherapist, I'll guide you through the process, creating a calm and focused state where your mind has the opportunity to explore different perspectives and make whatever positive adjustments are right for you.

There is no right or wrong way to experience it, and no pressure to “get it right”.

You simply need to be open to giving yourself an hour – and seeing what your mind can do with that space.

“What if I feel uncomfortable in a group?”

This is another understandable concern, particularly if you are already experiencing anxiety.

You might be imagining having to introduce yourself, talk about personal things, or somehow participate in front of everyone.

That's not what the Mindful Moment Hour is about.

You won't be expected to share anything you don't want to share. You can simply join the session, settle into your own space and take part in the exercises in a way that feels comfortable for you.

There can actually be something reassuring about knowing that other people are taking an hour for themselves too.

You are not the only person who sometimes struggles to switch off.

“Will I have to talk about my problems?”

No.

The Mindful Moment Hour isn't group therapy, and you won't be asked to explain what's going on in your life.

You don't need to arrive with a problem to solve.

Perhaps you've had a particularly stressful week. Perhaps you've been sleeping badly. Perhaps your mind has been racing. Or perhaps you're actually feeling pretty good and simply want to protect that sense of calm.

All are welcome.

The session isn't about analysing your problems. It's about giving yourself some space to step back from them.

Sometimes, when we stop trying so hard to solve everything, we can see things from a slightly different perspective.

“Will an online session really feel relaxing?”

This is something I particularly like about working online.

You can create your own comfortable environment around you. There's no journey home afterwards and no need to rush through traffic or worry about parking.

You can make yourself a cup of tea, find a comfortable chair, put your phone on silent and create a little space around the session.

For some people, being at home actually makes it easier to relax.

And when the session finishes, you're already where you want to be.

If you've been struggling with sleep, this can be particularly appealing. There's something rather lovely about finishing a relaxing evening session and not having to get back in the car afterwards. You can simply let the rest of the evening unfold and use this as signal to set you up for better sleep.

“Why join a group rather than doing something by myself?”

There are certainly plenty of wonderful meditation and mindfulness resources available online, and sometimes putting your headphones on and spending ten minutes by yourself is exactly what you need.

But there is something different about making a commitment to join other people at a particular time.

It creates a little bit of accountability.

More importantly, it creates a space that has been deliberately set aside for you.

When we're left to our own devices, it's surprisingly easy to think: I'll do it later. And then later becomes tomorrow. Tomorrow becomes next week, and suddenly another month has gone by.

Having a regular Mindful Moment in your diary means you don't have to wait until you have spare time.

You're choosing to make the time. And you're also giving yourself the opportunity to learn something about how your own mind responds when you deliberately create a little space.

Stress, anxiety and sleep are often connected

One of the reasons I work across sleep, stress and anxiety is because they rarely exist completely independently. When we're stressed, our minds can become more active. When we're anxious, it can be difficult to settle. When we're not sleeping well, everything can feel harder the following day. And so the cycle continues.

You may recognise it yourself: perhaps your day has been stressful and you go to bed with your mind still running. You wake in the early hours and start thinking about tomorrow. The less you sleep, the more difficult everything feels the next day. Or perhaps you're constantly anticipating something going wrong, which makes it difficult for your mind and body to settle.

Learning how to pause, become more aware of what is happening internally and create a different response can be one part of breaking that cycle.

It's not about pretending everything is fine; it's about giving yourself a little more choice in how you respond.

A moment to open up the possibilities

I chose the name Mindful Moment because I wanted the idea to feel simple and approachable. An hour isn't going to solve every problem in your life – and I wouldn't pretend that it will. But an hour can create a pause.

A pause from the constant doing.

A pause from the mental noise.

A pause from automatically following the same thoughts and reactions.

And in that space, something interesting can happen.

You may find that your mind is more receptive to a different perspective. You may discover a little more calm or clarity. You may leave feeling grounded, refreshed or simply lighter than when you arrived. Exactly what you take from the experience will be personal to you.

My role is to create the conditions, guide you through the process and help you use the natural ability of your mind to make positive adjustments.

Your Mindful Moment

My monthly Monthly Mindful Moment is an opportunity to step away from the noise for a while and give yourself some dedicated time to relax, reset and reconnect with yourself.

You don't need to be experienced in mindfulness.

You don't need to be “good” at relaxing.

You don't need to share your personal story with a group of strangers.

And you certainly don't need to have everything figured out before you join.

Just bring yourself, find somewhere comfortable where you won't be disturbed, and give yourself permission to press pause for an hour. Because amongst all the things we have to do, sometimes we need to remember that we are worth making time for too.

And who knows what your mind might do with that little bit of space?