We have 70,000 thoughts a day, so taking the time to think can only do wonders for our mind

During lockdown, we filled our kitchens with the smell of baked goods, that sweet smell of sticky caramelized banana. We woke up and resolved to make the most of the day. We had to consciously look for moments of quiet joy.

But now there are distractions. A buffet lunch with co-workers, a round of Arnotts for a new dress. Without needing to be so conscious of ourselves, we can wind up in five minutes of boredom scrolling doom or absorbing the stress of a co-worker biting her nails during a team meeting.

It is estimated that we have around 70,000 thoughts every day. With all this distraction, we may not be as vigilant about what we are focusing our attention on.

Work stress haunts us on our phones. From the email reminding us we forgot something, or the dissatisfied customer expecting an immediate forgiving response, these interruptions can disrupt off-duty moments.

We all find that window of splendor or rest and relaxation somewhere else. For me, it’s the kids, tired after planting potatoes in the spring sunshine, fiddling with their Gruffalo sticker book.

My first sip of Barry’s tea in the morning as the orange sun peeks over the Boyne’s gray slate. Leaning back in my chair when I’ve finally submitted the manuscript for a new book.

Feel the softness of the sheets as I climb in, the sound of the baby snoring and the distant murmur of the river in the background. A warm shower. The crispy batter on a fresh cod. These are the joys, the wonders, that we can appreciate when we are in the moment.

It can seem like there’s only bad news. Wars, natural disasters, car accidents and violent crimes are simply more newsworthy and considered more important for people to know about.

Not the gal who played blindfold in the under-12 Camogie match, or the couple who got engaged, or the moment of bliss that comes from sending a long, clunky email.

You might hear about these small victories on social media, but trolls and randers lurk in the trenches, tackling everything from the price of scones to the price of Putin’s head.

When considering the cacophony of content we consume these days, it’s important to be critical rather than chasing arguments through the vacuum chambers of our minds.

But it is not possible to just hide in an attic, far from the trials of the world and the news of the day. So how can we be well informed without being overwhelmed?

The broadcasting of the Angelus is a contentious issue in our increasingly secular country. By taking a moment at the end of the day to reflect on things, we can remind ourselves that we are part of a larger whole.

This daily recap practice is recommended by mental health professionals and mindfulness coaches. It was even part of Benjamin Franklin’s evening routine.

Turning on the kettle and settling down to read the newspaper on a Sunday is a ritual for many readers. Between the gray pages of newspaper there is bad news and good news — and supplements. But there’s a detachment you don’t find in online reports and Twitter updates.

So what if we could punctuate our day with those quiet moments, like a gardener sowing seeds in a row? Why should we be at war with ourselves when so much of the world is already fighting?

This longing for serenity is not just a modern claim. Even without remote work, social media or rolling news, calm had to be found, polished and guarded in the past.

In The Lake Isle of Innisfree, WB Yeats described how “peace slowly sinks.” This everyday chord appears in fragments that accumulate over time.

Let us bear no bloodshed in our hearts when we are free to smile in the sunshine.