Spending time with Out of Your Mind by Dani DiPirro felt a little like being reminded that it’s okay to slow down and step back from the constant stream of thoughts that can fill our minds throughout the day. I approached the book both as a therapist and as someone who knows how busy the mind can become when it’s juggling ideas, worries, and that ongoing internal dialogue many of us carry around. One of the first things that stood out to me is that this isn’t really a book you simply read from start to finish, it’s something you actively take part in.

Early on, the book explores the idea that we often become tangled up in our thoughts, treating each one as if it must be important or completely true. Instead, it gently introduces the idea of creating a little distance between ourselves and the thoughts passing through our minds. The goal isn’t to stop thinking altogether, but to learn how to notice those thoughts with a bit more curiosity and a little less urgency.

What I particularly liked is the way the book blends reflection with creativity. Alongside the prompts are journalling pages and colouring sections that encourage you to slow down and engage with the ideas in a more hands-on way. The journalling spaces invite you to explore your thoughts and feelings on paper, which can often help you notice patterns or question some of the assumptions the mind makes when it’s running on autopilot.

The colouring pages add a surprisingly calming element to the experience. Taking a few minutes to colour while thinking about one of the themes can create a small pause in the day. Creative activities like this can help shift attention away from constant mental activity and into something more grounded and present. From a therapeutic perspective, these kinds of simple creative practices can make reflection feel softer and more accessible.

I also appreciated that the book doesn’t feel rigid or demanding. There’s no sense that you need to complete it in a particular order or do everything perfectly. You can open it at any page, spend a few minutes colouring or writing, and return to it whenever you feel like it. That flexibility makes it feel supportive rather than overwhelming, especially on days when energy or focus might be limited.

Out of Your Mind comes across less as a traditional self-help book and more as a gentle creative space to pause and reflect. The combination of prompts, journalling pages, and colouring encourages you to slow down, approach your thoughts with a little more kindness, and carve out small moments of quiet within the busyness of everyday life. Stepping outside of the mind for a moment doesn’t always require big changes, sometimes it can be as simple as picking up a pen or colouring pencil and giving yourself a few minutes to breathe.

With Creativity & Kindness, Gemma.

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