We all need an escape from reality once in awhile.
While we may not be able to jump on the next plane to an island-getaway, we all
can escape from reality mentally. Because every mind is different, it may take
some trial and error to find out how you best are able to mentally escape
reality. Truly escaping reality using your mind takes practice, but can be a
great way to feel reinvigorated and able to handle anything that life may throw
at you.
METHOD 1 -CLEARING YOUR MIND
1 Meditation-Meditation is a fantastic way to clear your
mind and escape reality; it is traditionally used to make the
mind calm and peaceful. Proper
meditation enables you to take your mind into a calm space and put reality on
hold. The best part is that meditation can be done in the comfort of your own
home (or even bed) and requires no prior training or monthly membership.
•Find a comfortable
position. Many people like to lay on the floor with their bodies relaxed, their
feet pointed outwards, and their palms facing upwards. There is no “right”
position in which to meditate, so find a position in which it is comfortable
for you to lie still. You can also try the lotus position.
•Be aware of your
breathing. Don’t necessarily try to control your breath, but simply breathe and
be aware of it.
•Expect good
meditation to take practice. At first, it is almost inevitable that your mind
will wander. However, with practice, you will be able to completely clear your
mind during your period of meditation. When your mind does wander, bring your
focus back to your breath.[4]
•Consider using
downloadable meditation programs. Simply go to Google or YouTube and search for
“meditation.”
2 Listen
to music- Listening to music is a fantastic way to clear your mind and make
a mental escape from reality. Music has been scientifically shown to affect
many different areas of the brain, and it can actually help you achieve
self-awareness and regulate your mood.[5][6] It is also a commonly used tool to
engage in escapism.•If you are unsure of what type or genre of music to listen to, you can try to listen to ambient music or binaural beats. •For example, try Dr. Christopher Lloyd Clarke’s relaxation music or The Tranquil Harp: Improvisations for Relaxation, Meditation, Integration by Paul Baker.
•If you desire
something different, try classical music, such as piano concertos, or listen to
Gregorian chants.
•For something more
lively, try listening to drum and bass music that has no lyrics.
3 Practice yoga (or another calming physical activity). In
addition to having physical benefits, yoga has mental and psychological
benefits as well. It is an activity in which the participant focuses on breath
and body instead of on the worries and stressors associated with reality.[9]
Yoga is a great way to have some personal time, clear your mind, temporarily
escape your reality, and get a workout in as well.
•If you’ve never practiced yoga before, do a
Google search to find a studio around you. Attend a class for beginners, and
try to incorporate yoga into your routine. Many yoga studios will allow you to
attend a trial class for free. •Talk to the
instructor of your first yoga class. He or she may be able to make some
recommendations for types of yoga that will help you with your goal of mentally
escaping reality.
•Keep in mind that
you may not feel the sensation of escaping reality the first time you try yoga.
It will take consistent practice to make yoga an activity that helps with your
mental state.
4 Chant- Chanting can be a powerful way to temporarily escape
from reality. Performing chanting, or mantra meditation can allow you to
mentally “remove” yourself from your mind, thereby mentally escaping reality.
•Chanting
inspires a “relaxation” response. This means that your heart rate, brain waves,
and respiration will become slower.This physical response can actually make you
feel like you are leaving reality behind .•Chanting the
mantra “Om” is said to be extremely calming to the mind, actually inciting the
release of relaxing hormones. This is because the “Om” sound sends vibrations
through your lips and palate and into the back of your throat.
5 Allow yourself to daydream. Daydreaming constitutes the ultimate mental
escape from reality, but many of us don’t have the time to allow ourselves to
drift into a daydream world. Daydreaming not only helps you mentally escape
reality, but also plays an important role in allowing us to recognize our own
potential, achieve a greater sense of identity and personal meaning, and
enhance our self-control and creativity.
•Allow yourself to
daydream when the external environment is undemanding.This can be while you’re
running on a treadmill, sitting in a traffic jam, or ironing clothes.
•Let your mind
truly wander. This means that you shouldn’t try to control your daydreams-
there is no “right” or “wrong” daydream to have.
•Keep daydreaming.
Studies show that we daydream less as we get older. However, this should not be
so: daydreaming is the easiest way to mentally escape reality and requires
nothing more than some time alone with your thoughts
METHOD 2 USING ACTIVITY FOR MENTAL ESCAPE
1 Spend time alone- As your partner, colleagues, and children are potentially a part of your everyday life, escaping reality means leaving them behind temporarily and refocusing on yourself. Because the society that we live in is perceived by most to be hectic and filled with stressors, spending some dedicated time alone can help you to refresh your mind and be more ready to handle reality when you return. Solitude allows your brain to “reboot.” •Turn off your phone and sign out of your social media. When you are no longer “connected” to everyone and everything, you will find yourself much more able to mentally escape reality
•Wake up 30 minutes
before anyone else and enjoy the peace and quiet of the morning. Use that time
to reflect, meditate, and daydream.
•Make alone time a
priority. Many of us spend the majority of our day catering to others, whether
colleagues, family, or friends. Make it a point to set aside a block of time
each day to allow yourself some time to escape your otherwise hectic reality.
2 Calm -Try a calming,
repetitive activity. Instead of passively allowing your mind to wander, some
people may find it helpful to actively engage in an activity that they can
associate with a mental escape from reality. There are a wide range of
activities that can facilitate an escape from reality.
•Try painting or
knitting. The repetitive motion may help you find peace and solace and allow
your mind to wander away from reality.
•If you’re looking
to get exercise at the same time, go for a walk. Walking for 7,000-8,000 steps
each day is great for your physical health and if you use your walking time to
also meditate, daydream, or otherwise escape reality, you will be benefitting
your mind as well as your body.
•If you want to
enjoy the outdoors, try hiking, fishing, or gardening. Being in nature can be
another avenue for your mental escape of reality.
•There is no “best”
activity to help you mentally escape reality; however, you should always do
something that you enjoy. Some people may find the best way to mentally escape
reality is to go skydiving or snorkeling, while others may enjoy playing a
computer game or putting together a puzzle.
3 Read a book. Books are a fantastic avenue for
escapism because they allow you to escape your reality and enter another world
without ever leaving your sofa.Choose a book from your •Find a book that
takes you into a make-believe world. This could be a fictional world, such as
that of Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings, or a book that takes place in
another time or location, such as a work of historical fiction.
•Choose a series
(something available in a trilogy or more) for an even longer escape from
reality!
METHOD 3 TAKING
YOURSELF ON A MINI-RETREAT
1Set aside some dedicated time-While it would be ideal to have 1-2 days to make
a mental escape from reality, even a few hours will suffice!
2 Choose a location- It can be a location that you associate
with a sense of calmness and peace or it can be a place you’ve never been to
before.
•Consider outdoor
options, such as a cabin in the woods. You may want to try going to the
seaside, which many people find to be very calming.
•If you're looking
for total relaxation, consider going to a monastery for peace and quiet in an
austere environment
3 Take along a journal- Write down your thoughts, feelings, and
emotions. Write letters to people who have hurt you, and burn them if you want
to. Write down your fears and bury them in the forest. These small activities
can help you refocus and re-center while you are on your retreat.
4 Do something you enjoy - Take a long drive in the country, go to a
movie, sit by a bonfire, try a new beer, visit a museum. Treat yourself to
something that you normally wouldn’t have the time to do in your reality.
5Stop and smell the roses- The goal is to slow down from the pace of
your “real life” and embrace the world around you. This can be especially
enjoyable when you are in a new place thanks to your mini-retreat.
•Sit back and
observe and appreciate all the beauty of life around you. Think about the good
things in your life, and let go of the rest, even if only temporarily. Take a
slow walk, look at the landscape, feel the breeze, hear the birds sing- do
anything you don't normally take the time or have the patience to do! 
