• Mayo Clinic Minute: An exercise to slow your spinning mind

a woman working at a computer, day dreaming, letting her mind wander and looking out a windowYou know you need a break from a project, and you try to take one, but your mind keeps racing.

If you've struggled with this issue, you're not alone.

"It does take time," says Dr. Amit Sood, author of The Mayo Clinic Guide to Stress-free Living. "But the brain can be trained both to accelerate and slow down."

Dr. Sood says it's an important skill that can improve your well-being and the quality of your work.

In this Mayo Clinic Minute, Dr. Sood suggests a simple exercise designed to help you quiet your mind. Jeff Olsen reports.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (1:00) is in the downloads. Read the script.