How To Reset Your Mind in 10 Minutes
Because humans need to reboot, too, from time to time.
Intro: Your Brain’s Spinning Wheel of Death
Ever find yourself staring at the screen, tabs multiplying like rabbits, fingers frozen mid-keystroke, wondering what you even opened the browser for?
That was me last Friday. Literally!
My body was screaming: It’s time to reset your mind.
After five back-to-back Microsoft Teams meetings, constant pings lighting up my screen like a Vegas slot machine, and my task list growing faster than my patience,
I hit a wall.
It wasn’t burnout. Not yet.
But it was brain fog with a capital F.
So I did what I’ve learned to do—I shut it all down.
Ten minutes. No devices. No noise. Just a full system reset.
And it worked.
Here’s how you can reclaim your clarity with just 10 minutes—no yoga mat, no retreat center.
Just a quiet reboot for a human mind running 2025 software.
And you don’t even need to wait until “Patch Tuesday”.
Why Mental Resets Matter (Especially Midday)
Let me be clear about something:
I never put in “8 hours a day” in my current role as a Cybersecurity Program Manager.
I put in 4 focused hours in the morning, hit the brakes for a 1-hour reset, and then come back with another 4 hours of intentional work in the afternoon.
That midday break isn’t negotiable—it’s essential.
Skipping lunch to power through your inbox or accommodate a so-called “emergency” meeting isn’t a badge of honor—it’s the fastest route to burnout.
That’s why I guard my Lunch Hour Do Not Disturb Ritual like it’s top secret clearance.
No meetings. No calls. No screen time. Like I said before. Non-negotiable.
Just space to breathe, reset, and remind myself: I’m a human being, not a productivity algorithm.
If you don’t make time to reset, your body will eventually do it for you—and not on your schedule.
Trust me, you don’t want that to happen to you.
It ain’t pretty.
But you don’t need to wait until lunchtime either.
Here’s a plan to reset your mind, any time.
The 10-Minute Mental Reset (Step-by-Step)
You don’t need anything but your own permission to reset your mind.
Step 1: Unplug the Noise (1 minute)
- Close the laptop. Flip your phone over. Log off Microsoft Teams.
- No notifications. No scrolling. No multitasking.
- If you’re home, go to your favorite quiet place.
- If you’re in an office setting, go to that one weird small conference room that no one likes to use. You know the one.
- Get comfortable.
Step 2: Breathe Like You Mean It (2 minutes)
- Inhale for 4. Hold for 4. Exhale for 6.
- Repeat. Let your shoulders drop with each breath.
- Count each exhale. That’s your anchor.
Step 3: Use Your Senses to Come Back to Earth (2 minutes)
- Notice 5 things you see. 4 things you hear. 3 things you feel.
- This technique pulls you out of “future stress” and into “present calm.”
Step 4: Ask a Grounding Question (2 minutes)
Try one:
- What’s one thing I actually need to do next?
- Am I just tired or trying to do too much?
- What does my body need right now?
Jot down whatever bubbles up.
Trust it.
Step 5: Choose Your Return Intentionally (3 minutes)
- Don’t rush back into the noise.
- Pick one clear next move.
- Picture how you want to feel as you return.
That’s a quick and efficient zero-cost way to reset your mind.
You’re welcome. 😉
Bonus Jaime Tip: The Walking Meeting Hack
If you’ve got a 30 or a 60 minute meeting where you’re not expected to share your screen or present, here’s your power move:
- Pop in your AirPods
- Open Microsoft Teams on your phone
- Bring your team along for a walk around your neighborhood. Or don’t tell them. It’s up to you.
- Don’t walk so fast so you don’t sound out of breath when it’s time to un-mute.
You’ll be shocked how clarity shows up when your body’s in motion.
I’ve had some of my best ideas pacing under a tree while someone presents slides I’ll never need to reference again.
Your body was made to move.
Going for a walk it’s another fantastic way to reset your mind.
The Science of Short Breaks
Quick resets activate your parasympathetic nervous system—the one that calms you down and recharges your executive function (a.k.a. the CEO part of your brain).
And guess what?
Studies from Stanford and Microsoft show that brief mental pauses dramatically improve cognitive performance and emotional resilience.
So yes—doing “nothing” for 10 minutes might be the most productive thing you do today.
Want to Go Deeper?
If this helped you reset, you’ll love this other article I wrote:
👉 Calm Productivity: The Antidote to Burnout
Here, and in some of my other calm mindset articles, you will find other helpful ways to reset your mind.
Final Thought: You’re Not a Machine
You wouldn’t run your laptop 24/7 with 17 apps open and never restart it, right?
Then why do that to your brain?
Take 10 minutes to reset your mind.
Reset without guilt.
Your afternoon self will thank you.
