Free you mind!.... but how?

[Bob]

I would like to leave work at work.  However, I find my mind still spinning along with things that happen during that day, projects I'm working on.

How do I shift gears faster?

I find that I can "forget" that work stuff if I read a book or travel or something like that.  It can take a day or two though.  And a day or two is the weekend, so by the time I get my mind off work, it's time to go back again on Monday.

Is there a way to switch mental gears faster or instantly?

Is there a way to "erase" the day from your mind at 5pm?  Some days I would like to just forget about or problems that arise I would like to forget for now and work on torrow (at work) but my mind is all keyed up and continues on after I leave work.  So it's like I never get to really leave work that way.

Does anyone know what I'm talking about here?  Has anyone found a solution?

[ted]

It usually takes me about five minutes of music to obliterate all thoughts of work. However, my situation may not justify direct comparison with yours, as you may well have a job far more onerous and responsible than mine.

[jazzyprof]

Is there a way to switch mental gears faster or instantly?

Is there a way to "erase" the day from your mind at 5pm? 

I've heard that a good stiff drink works wonders!   I have no personal experience of that myself...so take it with a grain of salt.

[gilad]

my quiet time often used to get consumed by worries about work or whatever.
i asked my brother what the hell can i do about this it's driving me mad, i dont want to think about it.
he told me he used to have a similar problem and consciously had to put the thoughts out of his mind. i started to do that and it gave me way more control.
you'd be surpised at how much power you have over what you think.

i'm not offering a solution,i'm not sure is there is one quick fix here,but there must be a way. you may be able to find a book that'll give you ideas.

[abell88]

This may sound silly, but I find it helps me. I imagine myself in a safe place (well, actually in my car) and I mentally go through and turn  off the lights, wipers, radio, heater, etc., and make sure it's in park and the parking brake is on, then turn off the car. (I don't find imagining I'm at the seashore or something relaxing, because ...well, anyway, I just don't). Then I imagine I have a box on the seat beside me; everything will fit in the box, and nothing will come out until its proper time. So then I consciously put all the categories of things that might be on my mind in the box, and say to myself, Now I won't think about any of these things until the proper time. (Usually I'm doing this when I can't sleep, so the proper time is defined as sometime after 7:30 the next morning.)

[stringoverstrung]

I would like to leave work at work.  However, I find my mind still spinning along with things that happen during that day, projects I'm working on.

This is a form of stress. What you need is mental practice to get inner peace. When you have inner peace you can call upon it anytime you want and everything is gone. Now don't be afraid: it requires some effort in the beginning but after a month or two you can do it without effort at all. It's a lovely feeling. It is difficult to learn all by yourself.
The best is to start with convincing yourself (=believing) that you can learn it, that you can change, that every change is possible even in your own personality. And as you know from studying the piano: the learning proces is not linear.
Rule no1: DON'T TRY TOO HARD!!
because: try too hard means "i want to succeed". This has a component of "i have to" in it. And "have to" is contraproductive when you want to eliminate stress. "I HAVE TO RELAX" is impossible to work with. That is probably your first mistake: "i have/want to stop thinking about work". That is the same as "i have to relax": the wrong approach. Think about it. If you want to know more send me a PM. 

________________________________________________________
_{music washes the dust from a normal day of my soul}

[thalbergmad]

Read "Creative Visualisation" by Shakti Gawain.

[pianistimo]

i'm back...and i wouldn't advise breaking a leg to find that inner peace.   the frustration of the last two weeks would drive a hedgehog to suicide.  the first few days, i even told my son, "i'm glad we don't have a gun in the house, or i'd ask for what they do to horses when they break a leg - you know, a quick shot to the head."

i think i understand a little bit about troubles, as life seems to bring an equal amount of good and bad at different times.  one thing that really helps me is prayer.  and, also walking or riding my bike and finding that peace of nature.  the birds don't really have to do much and they are quite at peace and happy, so i say now (after the pain is less) i can take mental breaks (from worry about hospital bills, etc) by looking out the window even, and just watching the trees and birds.

i think i understand a bit about what the chinese mean about chi.  you have to learn to breath deeply, let go of troubles (to God), and realize that some things are completely out of our control.  when you can let go, you can just let God.  that's my take.  and, it saves you from suicidal tendencies.  oxygenation of your body kinda helps to let go of troubles, too.  and, of course, good friends.   

[ryguillian]

The German author Eckhart Tolle has an excellent series of books on meditation which might help you "free your mind"; "The Power of Now" is the most popular.

—Ryan