Quieting your mind is like calming your breath. You're not trying to make anything happen. Your job's just to breathe and observe. Observe your breath, and all its qualities. And if thoughts come, observe them, too - but don't invite them to sit down with you for tea. Unattended, they'll go off on their own merry way. ("All conditioned things have their arising, and their passing away.")
Be like a mirror, or mountain lake, that reflects whatever passes before it. Tibetan Buddhists suggest just watching your thoughts the way an old person on a park bench watches children at play, without paying attention to which kids are yours or not. You thoughts aren't necessarily you. By your not identifying with them, they dwindle away.
I really like the image of an old person on a park bench watching children play. It's loose, spacious, accepting, free. And I can easily imagine myself actually doing it and experiencing that as restful while still having my mind be alert.
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