Top tips on how to declutter your mind-1

Top tips on how to declutter your mind

People often emphasize on decluttering one’s space, but rarely talk about the importance of decluttering the mind. The same way cluttering works for your home, things can build up in your mind. It can sometimes feel like a computer which needs an update by moving certain items to the trash. The most obvious sign that your mind needs decluttering is when you have to make a decision and your head is about to explode. How can you do to declutter your mind?

Set priorities

Without prioritising one can easily fall into automatic mode having to always ‘do something’ without a real sense of accomplishment. Thus, it is important to be very clear about your values and make sure you are clear about the direction you are taking in life. Setting clear values and top priorities makes setting goals, taking actions and making decisions much easier.

So how do you prioritise? Every day set a time either in the morning or in the evening to write an action plan mentioning your goals (short term and long term). It is important to make sure you spend time on each item of the list.

Often people make decisions that are rarely aligned with their values. They remain in their comfort zone used to doing the same over and over again. Shifting from what is urgent to what is important is a way to avoid falling into the automatic mode described previously.

Since priorities also change with time, checking them regularly is also necessary to make sure they are matching your values.

Be decisive

Being decisive is a key element to declutter the mind. The process of constant decision making leads the brain to become overwhelmed by the ‘pending actions’. Instead of procrastinating make sure you take action. Whether it is life changing decisions such as buying a house or small daily ones such as replying to an email you have been avoiding for long time. Procrastination is most probably the main trigger for mind clutter. Life is a succession of choices with some being more difficult than others. For those having difficulties making decisions, the easiest way would be to carefully evaluate the pros and cons without looking back once the decision is made.

Journaling

If you have an active mind this can be overwhelming at times. It can be difficult to find a sense of peace. What can you do to avoid that? Well, one solution would be to take the unwanted/unnecessary thoughts and moved them elsewhere. Just like moving the items on your computer to the bin and empty it. A piece of paper is the ideal medium for that. This can help you regain clarity. You are going to feel more relaxed; your productivity will improve and you will have enough space to think about what is truly important. You can use a journal or a notebook and start writing whatever crosses your mind. What is important is not to overthink the grammar and making sure to understand that whatever you write does not need to make sense. Freestyle writing enables to develop mindfulness and/or slow down and live in the moment: the necessary ingredients for a clutter-free mind. 

You will benefit more from journaling if you practice it regularly so make it a habit. Try to set aside a specific amount of time either daily or weekly to practice journaling. It is very simple and requires very little investment. Besides, it can help boost both your mood and productivity. What if you are struggling with journaling? Well another way would be audio recording. Audio journaling can help declutter our brains but also identify patterns of thoughts.

‘Spacing out’ 

Doing nothing enables you to process what is unprocessed (not necessarily trauma but stuff in general). Doing nothing and letting your mind flow is actually what enables you to clear your mind, a full ‘parasympathetic system reset’. Whether we believe it or not there is a mind/body connection and for both the mind and the body to function optimally they need to be connected. ‘Spacing out’ regularly allows you to read the messages and take actions according to what is required in order to be healthy. ‘Spacing out’ enables you to slow down and research has shown that it increases life satisfaction positive emotions and enhanced cognitive performance. ‘Many spiritual practises, such as Buddhism, promote doing nothing since detaching from daily concerns and spending time in reflection are essential to health and personal growth.

Psychological research Doing Nothing and Nothing to Do: The Hidden Value of Empty Time and Boredom by Manfred F.R. Kets de Vries :: SSRN suggests that doing nothing promotes creativity and innovation. Someone who is doing nothing might cultivate new insights, inventions etc

In this age of ‘always on’, doing nothing might be unreasonable and unrealistic. There are a few reasons explaining why people do not ‘space out’ often. First of all, the lack of awareness since most people are not aware of the benefits of practising it. The second element is the lack of time and organisation. Often, people are busy the whole day and end up having up to one hour of free time in the evening which they usually spend on their tablets. Mums as well as people sharing flats/houses might also lack the space to do it. But, most importantly it is the guilt phenomena that prevails. ‘Spacing out’ is often associated with laziness thus putting people always on the go. With enough space and time, one could easily fit in a moment where doing nothing would be possible. Nowadays people are constantly trying to achieve their goals, be productive. 

So what are the thoughts that filling are up the space of your machine? Time to send them to the bin and empty it.

Barbara Santini

Barbara is a freelance writer and a sex and relationships adviser at Dimepiece LA and Peaches and Screams. Barbara is involved in various educational initiatives aimed at making sex advice more accessible to everyone and breaking stigmas around sex across various cultural communities. In her spare time, Barbara enjoys trawling through vintage markets in Brick Lane, exploring new places, painting and reading.

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