Introduction

When it comes to decluttering your home, there is a simple solution: put everything on eBay. This advice is oversimplified, but it seems possible. However, when it comes to decluttering your mind, it’s not really possible to unload your thoughts onto eager internet buyers...or is it? Here are a few ways to declutter your mind.

#1: Declutter your space.

We are what we eat...and what we see. While people may argue about whether or not violent movies can raise a generation of messed-up, angry kids, let’s just err on the side of caution and declutter the space around us. With fewer things in our field of vision, we have less garbage to stew over and worry about...freeing up the space in our minds.

#2: Declutter your schedule.

Another thing that can take up space in our minds is the constant rush from one activity to another. Take a look at your schedule and start eliminating things that aren’t necessary. All they are doing is causing you to feel overwhelmed and adding stress to your day, giving you more food to throw into the ever-spiralling stew of psychological stress.

#3: Unplug from the party.

Would you be able to sleep and rest easily if you were attending a party of several thousand people, such as at Times Square, on New Year’s Eve? That’s pretty much what’s happening with your smartphone, trapped in as you (probably) are to several social media networks. The pings, dings, and rings from various contacts as well as the thrill of finding a new message, are all adding small but unhealthy stressors to your day.

#4: Practice mindfulness.

Mindfulness is all about engaging with the present in a fully, alive way. There are many ways to practice mindfulness. This includes but is not limited to meditation, paying more attention to your environment, your body or journaling. Mindfulness will help you learn how to push irrelevant concerns out of your conscious thought process, leading to increased concentration and a decluttered mind.

#5: Let go.

Sometimes, it’s best to let go of old memories. From broken relationships to diabolical bosses, we tend to have a whole lot of backstories spinning in the back of our minds. You cannot undo the past but you can change the future. Just let it all go, and like a decluttered computer that suddenly operates faster, you’ll find your mind in a much more free and easy state.

Conclusion

Eliminating unnecessary thoughts, fears and concerns help reduce mental clutter and stress, boosts self-esteem and free up mental space. Monitor your thoughts regularly and try to replace your negative thoughts with positive ones.

 

Dr Toyin Adewunmi

Organisational Health and Wellbeing Consultant and Life Coach

Emerald Organisational Health & Wellbeing Solutions

London

E: Toyin.adewunmi@emerald-oh.Co.uk

W: www.emerald-oh. Co.uk