The modern man often leads a rather harried life. There are exams to
ace, bills to pay, diapers to change, and annoying co-workers to contend
with. And unfortunately, we all too rarely carve out pieces of our day
in which to defuse our stress and settle our minds.
Every man needs interludes of quiet and rest, not just to think
through what’s been going on in his life but also to not think at all.
Just to quiet his mind and be in the moment and feel his cares fall
away.
Traditional meditation
is a great way of doing this. But I’ll level with you — I don’t have
the self-discipline to sit still for long periods of time concentrating
on my breathing. And I actually find it easier to get into a meditative
state when I’m doing something repetitive with my hands. These
repetitive motions give the brain a little something to do while the
rest of it takes a break. If you’ve ever had a great idea while in the
shower, washing dishes, or brushing your teeth you will recognize the
wisdom in this.
Activities that keep your hands busy with simple, repetitive
movements are some of the best ways to settle your mind, find peace from
your worries, and gain inspiration in your decisions. So here are 6
manly ideas for getting a little more zen in your life:
Shining Your Shoes
Shining your shoes can seem like a chore, but as many of you discovered during our
30 Days to a Better Man Challenge,
the task can actually be quite therapeutic. There’s something about the
smell, the tools, and the technique that makes the job really
satisfying. Seeing your dingy shoes transformed into shiny masterpieces
acts as a nice metaphor for life; a little elbow grease can turn any
mess around. Be sure to check out our
illustrated guide and
video on the topic as well.
Fly Fishing
While all fishing can work wonders on your sense of well-being, no
type does it better than fly fishing. Fly fishing combines a quiet,
peaceful outdoors setting with the unstoppable de-stressing power of
rhythmic casting. If the sound of your line whipping back and forth
doesn’t put you into a zen-like state, nothing will.
Playing Catch
A lot of us haven’t picked up a baseball glove since we aged out of
Little League. But just because you’re not involved in an organized
game, doesn’t mean your glove should sit in the back of your closet.
Just playing catch can really relax you and is more fun than you
remember. Whenever Kate and I are blogging and have writer’s block, we
put on our gloves right here in the office and throw the ball back and
forth. It really helps.
Whittling
Gramps did it and so should you. Men’s hands were meant to create, to turn ordinary objects into something special. And
whittling is just the manly craft of woodworking writ small; all you need is a stick and a
pocketknife. Start practicing and soon you’ll be making your very own chess set.
Chopping Wood
This is something I got to do for the first time while in Vermont
this summer. I have to say, it was an incredibly satisfying experience.
There’s just something about swinging that heavy axe and the great
feeling you get when it hits the log with a crack,
splitting apart the wood.
I’ve still got a ways to go in being able to consistently split the
logs all the way through in one swing, but even my neophyte attempts
were good for the soul.
Exercise
Whether it’s jogging down a country road or pumping iron, working out
is a well-known and unbeatable stress reducer. It not only keeps your
hands busy, it engages your whole body while your mind goes somewhere
else. With your blood pumping and your
testosterone
increasing, the irritations of your day are released with your sweat.
Some people love having a workout partner, but I personally like to be
alone and totally inside my own head. Studies have shown that working
out outdoors greatly increases the stress-reducing benefits of exercise,
so
get out to a park and move your body.
What do you do to settle your mind? Let us know in the comments.
Source: Life
Source: Life
Source: UpNorth Memories
Source: Life
Source: Life
Source: Gavin James
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