The mind is the faculty of the soul when I, the soul, thinks it is called a mind. The mind is further divided into parts : conscious mind, subconscious mind or unconscious mind and the  preconscious mind, 

The conscious mind is active when we are awake and alert, that is actively engaging in the present moment, including direct perception, thinking, and feeling. It facilitates our ability to think, make decisions, and process information. The conscious mind holds feelings, sensations, and perceptions. The function of the active mind is directing attention, perceiving events, and responding to our environment. So basically we use our conscious mind when we are fully active, awake and aware of our surroundings.