Spring is upon us in the Southern Hemisphere. It’s my favourite time of year – the days are getting warmer and it’s the perfect time to get outdoors, enjoy nature and be a bit more active.
It’s the time when you suddenly get the urge to do some Spring Cleaning and get rid of the clutter in your home. It can be a very cathartic process. So, what if we applied that same process to our mind? What if we re-focused our energy on ourselves and de-cluttered our thoughts?
Research shows that clutter affects your brain’s ability to concentrate and process information, which has a flow-on effect on your mood and self-esteem. In a de-cluttered space, your brain doesn’t have to work so hard, which can leave you feeling more calm and energised.
Here are some of my top tips to help you de-clutter your mind:
Simplify your habits
We all live busy lives and have so much going on – work, kids, friends, family, partners, pets, sports, the list goes on. Our minds are constantly in overdrive, we are always thinking of the next thing we need to do. Quite frankly, it can be exhausting. A great way to clear out the clutter in your mind, is to take stock of your daily habits and find ways to simplify them. For instance, if you like to watch TV or play on your phone before bed, instead, switch everything off 10 minutes earlier and spend that time unwinding from the day. You’d be amazed at the difference it can make.
Keep a journal
There’s something very powerful about writing down our thoughts. It’s not something people often think to do. It’s a great way to help you better organise and understand your thoughts. It also takes them out of your own head and down onto the paper – almost like setting them free from your mind, so you can move on. It’s a really powerful way to de-clutter all the thoughts going on in your head. Try it at home and see what happens.
Set priorities and stick with them
Spend five minutes every morning taking stock of what you want to achieve for the day, the week, the month, and so on. Write down some goals and then hold yourself accountable to them. It is a great way to focus your mind on the things that actually matter, and clear out the things that don’t – i.e. the clutter. This will help you actively take charge of your life and give you a clear sense of purpose.
Be grateful
One of the most effective ways to clear out mental clutter is to say thank you. Just a general “thank you” to express gratitude for everything you are or aren’t, and everything you have or don’t have. It can either be a thank you to yourself, or even to someone else. Appreciating what’s around you and focusing on the positives of a situation, rather than the negative, can give you a great sense of mental clarity and make you feel a lot happier and at ease, as a result.
Learn to let go
When we hold on to things, it evokes feelings of stress, anxiety and clouds our mind. It stops us from moving forward and moving on. A really great way to de-clutter your mind is to learn to let go of things, understand why a situation has occurred, why you have reacted the way you did, accept it and move on. Learn to take control of the thoughts in your mind and only give power to the ones that are really important.
If you’re ready to de-clutter your life and get serious about your health and fitness goals, fill out the form below, and let’s have a chat.
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