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5 Simple Ways To End Mental Clutter Forever
Hey there, hope you’re well.
I remember watching one of those home makeover shows on TV (back when I still had a TV) where they help people with their house situations. One case, in particular, struck me because this elderly woman had this chronic habit of hoarding stuff.
After the hosts did a tour through her humble home, it was pretty obvious she needed help.
Actually, “help” doesn’t quite fit it – she needed an INTERVENTION.
Just getting through the front door was a struggle. They literally had to squeeze themselves in through stacked, wall-to-wall towers of newspapers, magazines and strewn pizza boxes.
And that was just the tip of the trash-berg. As they negotiated their way into the other rooms, they came upon even more piles of knick-knacks and other material possessions.
It was clear that it didn’t serve any purpose aside from taking up physical space. Not only was it suffocating her very way of life, the homeowner was living in a fire hazard.
The homeowner seemed like a nice enough lady, but there was something going on with her. And all the useless piles of stuff cluttering her house were a manifestation of her eroding mental state.
You probably don’t have the same hoarding tendencies as her, but it’s likely that you’re dealing with a different kind of clutter.
Most people don’t surround themselves with actual trash, but they do it mentally.
For one reason or another, they tend to fill their heads with endless noise that is useful to NO ONE. The mind has a way of curating these meaningless bits of information just because it can.
And if you let it go unchecked, you’ll waste precious time and energy that could have been used somewhere else more productive.
But where does this mental clutter come from? Let’s take a closer look at the four biggest culprits:
Culprit #1: Everyday Stuff
Your daily obligations make up a huge chunk of mental clutter. They’re the most immediate, pressing concerns that turn the gears in your head the most.
At any given moment, you could be thinking of the following:
– What you’re going to have for dinner
– Your annoying co-worker who forgot to shower again today
– The account number of the water bill that you misplaced this morning
– How much traffic is going to suck on the way home
– Your kid’s homework that’s due tomorrow, of course
– The Internet at home is spotty again, which means you can kiss your Netflix session later goodbye
And the list goes on…
Culprit #2: Future Stuff
Aside from the present, you’re also worried about things that haven’t come to pass. It could be your career prospects, the direction of your relationship, your kids’ college fund, or asking your boss for a raise.
These future scenarios weigh just as heavily on your mind. Simply thinking of all the possible outcomes for each of these are enough to fill your head with a truckload of ‘what-ifs’.
Culprit #3: Past Stuff
Ever had something so bad happen to you that you still remember every detail to this day?
Maybe you took it personally when your partner criticized you. Your boss might have chewed you out while everyone was in earshot and you haven’t stopped feeling bad about it.
Or it could even be that one time in fifth grade when someone made fun of you in front of the whole class. Up to now, you remember exactly the way they laughed and how it felt.
If you’ve been nursing some past grudge and keeping it alive in your head, that’s another form of mental clutter.
Culprit #4: Distractions
I mentioned this before in a previous post (3 Things You Need to Ditch in Your Life Right Now), but it’s worth mentioning here as well. Living in a hyperconnected world is both a blessing and a curse.
On one hand, you can instantly get in touch with the important people in your life and see what they’re up to. But at the same time, it also opens the door to unwelcome distractions.
I’m talking about social media, of course. Sure, getting real-time updates about your friend’s awesome Mexico getaway or your grandma’s freshly baked pumpkin pie is great.
But the thing is, you’re also exposed to a sea of endless noise. And many studies have linked social media use to depression.
Staying connected has its price – are you willing to pay for it?
And that begs the more important question: how do you cut all this invisible junk from your life?
Here are the 5 things I did to deep-six that clutter and take back the space in my head:
Free Your Mind – Habit #1: Clean Your Room!
You’re not a pack rat, but there’s bound to be physical clutter in your immediate surroundings. Start with your room, then work your way around the rest of your place.
There’s a link between your mental well-being and the cleanliness of your home. The bigger the mess you have, the greater effect it has on your peace of mind.
Like it or not, it translates to that static you don’t need in your head. Get this out of the way first, and you’ll instantly start to feel better about yourself.
Expand Your Mental Real Estate – Tip #2: Pay Attention to Your Body
Again, the physical realm affects the mental one. It’s easy to forget how much your state of health can influence your mind.
Have one less thing to worry about. Take care of yourself and yet another chunk of that mental clutter will dissipate into thin air.
Make an effort to eat and sleep better. Avoid the bad stuff (you know what it is) and give your body what it needs.
Burn those calories and get your endorphins cycling in your system. If you want to calm your mind, there’s no way around a clean bill of health.
Once you take the steps to giving your body what it needs, your brain will follow.
Kill the Noise – Technique #3: Get It All Out
The brain is an amazing piece of hardware. It seems to have an unlimited capacity to store every bit of information you’ll come across in your life.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t upload some of that data to an ‘external backup’.
A good way to declutter your mind is by using an old-fashioned notebook. In a technologically advanced time like this, we’ve forgotten that writing down stuff is still effective.
Got things to do this week? Have thoughts you’d like to get off your chest?
A million dollar idea that just popped in your head while taking a shower perhaps?
Jot it down.
Make a to-do list, start a journal and keep track of the things taking up space in your head.
All that stuff that’s bothering you now – or bothered you in the past – can all go in your journal.
Speaking of that last one, there’s an immense benefit to letting go of past grievances.
Other people might be responsible, or it could have been something YOU also did. People make mistakes and hurt each other. Sometimes by accident, other times on purpose.
Whatever the case, here’s a good way to process those hang-ups. I’ve learned to ask myself some crucial questions when I think about the past:
– Does that event have any bearing on my PRESENT life?
– Was it really an event in the first place? Or was I just caught up in my feelings at the time?
– Could I have really done anything then to change the outcome? Or was it out of my hands?
– Were the people involved right to say or do what they did? Or was it a lapse on their part?
Think of this as mental waste disposal. With this method, I’ve learned to sort out what’s worth learning from and putting aside…
…and what I can throw out without putting any more thought into it.
Filtering out those past events and processing them helped me become kinder to myself. I learned how to hold on to the teachable moments, but let go of the emotions attached to them.
By the way, if you’re the tech-savvy, then go ahead and use an app or save your thoughts in a Word document. Whatever you do, don’t hold it in.
Taking this small step and making it a regular habit will have a profound effect your mental well-being.
Give Your Brain a Break – Secret #4: Don’t Say Yes to Everything
Most people bite off more than they can chew when it comes to planning their week. Their calendars are usually loaded with appointments, commitments and a ton of other stuff they ‘need’ to do.
But this is one area of your life that needs a second look. Go over your weekly schedule and do an audit.
Do you have absolutely have to go to every single one of those events?
Are you really obligated to attend your friend’s cousin’s baby shower? Will you get fired at work if you skip that after-office get together at your local watering hole?
Sometimes, you’re only made to feel like you have to spend your valuable time on these things. But not all of those necessarily add value to your life or help you grow as a person.
If you’re feeling pressured, or deep down you’d rather do something else…
…then have the courage to turn them down.
Keep it simple, direct and polite. They might feel bad, but in the long run, they’ll respect you for being upfront and telling them early on.
At the end of the day, no one can physically stop you from staying at home or spending time with other people. And this translates to MORE mental clutter out the window!
Secret to Mental Discipline – #5: Limit Social Media Use
You knew this was coming when I brought it up earlier. Yes, keeping in touch is a good thing, but don’t let risks of social media outweigh its benefits.
And that depends on whether or not it’s affecting the other areas of your life (e.g. work, responsibilities, an actual social life, etc.)
Trust me, your brain doesn’t need another mug brownie recipe or an overused cat meme that’s been done to death. Don’t fill your mind with unnecessary clutter faster than you can keep up with.
Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter have their use, but NOT beyond a certain point. Have the discipline to rein yourself in when you’ve had your fill.
It will take some getting used to, but you’ll do your mind a BIG favor by giving it LESS to think about.
There’s enough chaos in the world around you. The best thing to do is master the world inside your head.
Getting rid of all that junk will streamline your thoughts and give you clarity. After all, you need to keep your head in the game if you’re going to manifest success and prosperity in your life.
And if you want to have the best possible mindset to attract everything you want, take a look at my flagship ‘Manifestation Miracle’ program.
I’ve got a roadmap to help you make a simple but powerful shift in your thinking that will unlock wealth, happiness and your true purpose.
Follow this link for the full details: Manifestation Miracle
Love and kind wishes,
Heather Mathews
