How To Do A Sunday Mind Cleanse

Ever have one of those days where you feel a bit muddy and dazed? It can happen after a long week at work, an activity-packed weekend, or when you least expect it. Our friend Alden Wicker of EcoCult is sharing her “recipe” for the perfect Sunday mind cleanse. Let us know if you try it!

Start with: a produce-packed juice or cup of tea

It helps get you in the right frame of mind. 

Add: 42-minutes rooftop meditation

You could do this in the park, but I prefer my roof because it’s the closest thing I have to a backyard in that it’s quiet and private-ish. 

I laid out a big, fluffy towel and lay on my back for a while, just looking at the blue sky above me. An unseen wind chime tinged on someone’s fire escape, and birds chirped in the trees in the garden. In other words: bliss.

I used MyMeditation Lite. This is a simple little app that will guide you through breathing exercises and then will ping you into the main meditation for 3, 12 or 30 minutes. I set it to the longest setting of 12 minutes of breathing plus 30 minutes of meditation. I meditated casually. My thoughts wandered often. I would let them for a bit, and then gently shoo them away and empty my head again. When my phone chimed, I already felt a little better.

Mix: 1 clean apartment

Really, nothing refreshes like a neat and tidy apartment. I did my dishes, stacked all my unread magazines, and recycled the rest, swept the floor, and hung up my clothing. I threw open a window to let fresh air in.

Then I chose one space to reorganize: my jewelry box. It’s small and simple, but it’s such a nice feeling to see everything neatly lined up. You could do this with your denim drawer or desk drawer or bookshelf – anything that makes you feel like you’ve tidied a corner of your life– it’s like flossing your mind! 

Add: something simple for dinner

Grab a simple vegetable, drizzle it in olive oil and shove it in the oven to roast. The act of cubing the vegetable, the simple seasonings, and the fresh taste cleansed my palate and set my mind at ease.

Fold in: 1-2 pieces edifying writing

This could be almost anything: an issue of The Atlantic or The New Yorker, some non-fiction about new discoveries in psychology, or even just a celebrated piece of literature from the past few years. I chose Poser, by Claire Dederer, for my reading.

Warm up: a bathtub of saltwater

Saltwater has wonderful properties, or so I hear. It’s recommended as a remedy for all sorts of maladies, and it just feels nice. I liberally poured salt into a warm bath and soaked, reading my book and drinking a cup of green tea.

Stir in: 1 call to a family member

I owed my grandmother a call, so I rang her up and we discussed the nice, clean, happy things grandmothers and granddaughters discuss: my career, where I had gone out to dinner, the weather, etc. There’s nothing like discussing what you’re making for dinner and singing a round of “You Are My Sunshine,” to feel happy and productive.

Combine and bake for 8 hours: a nice deep sleep

By the time I was done with all these mind-health activities, it was time for bed. So I climbed into bed, feeling clarified and (almost) looking forward to Monday morning.