Energy Saving Thinking

By ALICE O’BRIEN

Alice O’Brien Counselling, Newmarket

It is said that we have between sixty and eighty thousand thoughts a day- not sure who did the counting for this one. That is a lot of thinking. Thoughts about the past, the future, positive thoughts and negative thoughts. So, it’s natural that we need an energy saving device for our thinking. It’s called proprioception.

Proprioception is the sense we have of where our body is in relation to the space around us. Have you ever wondered how you manage to find the bathroom light switch in the dark, or how you know which leg will anticipate the steps of the stairs without much thought? Or how you can scratch you nose with your eyes close, or even in your sleep, how does your body know where to move so you don’t fall out of the bed. Proprioception is sub-conscious. It does not require any conscious thought, which is vital for us to move and get around automatically and at a reasonable speed. It also means that the thoughts required to bring awareness to our bodies are less invasive, leaving room for more productive types of thought, like planning or remembering or even problem solving thoughts.

Proprioception can diminish as we get older, leading to increased risks of falls or trips. Ways to improve proprioception include movement like walking or swimming, or any form of movement really. Standing on one leg for short periods of time or picking up objects with the nondominant hand also help to keep the body reminded of its muscle use.

Let’s face it- we all have enough to think about as we go about our daily lives, so anything that can help to minimise the effort all help. As the saying goes- take good care of your body as it is the only place you have to live.