It’s a new year, a new start. It’s usually this time of the year when we realize all the clutter we have accumulated over time. Not just material junk but mindless junk also. Our lives and minds are full of unnecessary clutter, whether a desk covered with papers, a kitchen drawer stuffed with items that do not seem to belong anywhere, or an overwhelmed mind trying to deal with too much. A cluttered mind is fatiguing and results in mediocre performance and poor decisions. It is possible to declutter your mind, just as you declutter your kitchen drawer.
If you want to make fundamental changes in your life and start this year with a clearer mind, you need to create space and time, remove what is no longer required and gain clarity. Here are ten tips to help get you started.
1. Start with your diet. A poor diet can result in a foggy and confused mind. The main culprit is inflammation and unstable sugar levels. Be aware of the foods you buy, avoiding processed and fast foods. Watch your portion sizes, the times you eat, as well as what you are eating. Start by making small subtle changes.
2. Fitness. Great at helping clear your mind and removing the stresses of the day. It does not have to be strenuous, painful, or expensive. Fitness is about having fun, finding something you enjoy doing. Also, a great stress relief for your mind and body.
3. Simplify your life. Having too much going on in your life causes unwanted stress and anxiety. Use this time to get rid of activities, situations and people that do not enhance your life. It is so easy to become bogged down by things that do not matter.
4. Create positive habits. Habits help to streamline your thought process. Create positive daily habits and weekly routines that take care of and enhance your basic needs.
5. Make a to-do list. Creating mental notes for yourself to do something requires unnecessary thoughts and can be easily forgotten. Writing it down helps clear mental storage, leaving you free to move on to something more immediate. When written down you do not need to remember it, simply because it is on paper, on your phone, or better still in your journal.
6. Single tasking. Multi-tasking always seems a good option but can cause frustration, anger, raise stress levels because you have too many things on the go at one time, and nothing completed to the best of your ability. Studies have shown that it is more effective to do one thing at a time. So, focus on one thing, complete it, tick it off your list and move on. You will stay fresher mentally and achieve much more each day.
7. Make decisions quickly. Decisions that you put off begin piling up in your mind and consume valuable space and effort. Successful people make decisions quickly and stick with them. Unless you need more information, make that decision. It will not be any different tomorrow or next month, so get it over with and decide.
8. Rest your mind. Reading, watching TV, or browsing the internet or social media does not count as a rest. Meditation, deep breathing or sitting alone are considered restful. Sit outside and enjoy nature. Stay focused on your surroundings and avoid allowing your mind to think about anything other than what is around you. Stay in that moment of solitude for a minimum of 15 minutes. Giving your mind a rest is valuable. So remember, never let anyone or anything steal it away from you.
9. Let us prioritize. There is a limit to how much you can do in a day. The secret is to get the most important things accomplished and ticked off. The easiest way to do this is to make a priority list. Decide what is most important.
10. Be kind to someone else. Your cluttered mind is too focused on your own challenges of the day that you miss all the good things that are happening around you. Give yourself a break and give a helping hand to someone else. They will deeply appreciate it; you will have that feel-good factor plus the sense of being useful. Great result all around. You will walk away with a clearer mind and a new perspective. It is good to step away from your surroundings sometimes to hugely appreciate what you have.
Just two hours of volunteer activity per week can have a profound effect on your attitude. It can change your life. It is a simple thing that can add more value to your life and someone else’s.
We all have clutter in our lives, whether it be challenges, issues, beliefs, people, relationships, or work, slowing us down and draining us of our energy. Areas of clutter can be manageable, and other areas not so manageable. Giving yourself regular breaks during the day or using your day more productively, prioritizing your daily tasks or stepping away from your day-to-day routine to support someone else can help bring peace and clarity. Is this not a fantastic way to start a new year?
What are you waiting for – your new uncluttered life starts today.
Need any more information, you can contact Carolyn at info@carolynwellington.com
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