Easy Ways to Clear Mental Clutter
It must happen to you too — you wake up and already a million ideas and things you need to do are whizzing through your head. Then you get on with your day and all these pesky tasks just won’t go away. Having mental clutter can make you frustrated, tired and annoyed. So I say clear it out!
Here are a few ways that work for me:
Write a To-Do List
This may seem a bit obvious, but it works! If you’re mind is crowded with all the things you have to get down, write them down in a To-Do List. This way, you can easily see what needs to get done and you can prioritize better.
Yes! (Photo credit: Joe Shlabotnik)
Be Decisive
Making a hard decision can be a big mental burden. There are usual a lot of variables at play and going back and forth between options will create a lot of mental clutter. If you’re having difficulty sticking to a decision, try making a Pro-Con list and get your thoughts out in the open. Once you’ve made your choice, you’ll feel a lot better!
Organizing my Seed Stash (Photo credit: Chiot’s Run)
Physically De-Clutter
If your surroundings are a mess, it’ll only add to your mental clutter. There was a study done at UCLA that found when faced with household clutter, women’s stress hormones sky rocketed. If everything in your office or home is in its proper place, you won’t have to put any effort into sorting through the things around you.
Relax /1 (Photo credit: Gianluca Neri)
Plan Down Time
Scheduling in a few minutes for relaxing is important, even if you’re busy. Taking the time to rest will help prevent you from becoming stressed and will give you time to organize your thoughts.
Woman listening to Music (Photo credit: RelaxingMusic)
Listen to Music
Stop letting your many thoughts get in the way of your productivity. Your thoughts will have a much harder time distracting you over the music. I also do this when I can’t concentrate at work. Something about drowning everything else out helps me focus.
Help wanted sign (Photo credit: andjohan)
Ask for Help
If you have a lot on your mind, chances are its because you have a lot on your plate! It’s OK to ask for help — not even the best of us can’t do everything on our own.
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I like the advice about listening to music. It seems counter intuitive, but it has always worked for me. When I was in school, I always listened to music while studying. My husband always thought this was nuts, but it really helped me concentrate on what I was trying to focus on.
Thanks for your comment Leora! I agree — it seems like it would distract you but for some reason it helps to get you into the zone! Thank for reading!