Many of us have a mind full of clutter, which results in being restless and unfocused. It tries to force us to move in many different directions at the same time with results in us getting very little done. Mental clutter can include worrying about the future, focusing on the past, and keeping a mental to-do list, among others. Fortunately, there are steps that you can take to declutter your mind and free up more mental space.
Keep a Journal
Keeping a journal allows you to download the inner chatter that keeps interrupting your thoughts when you are trying to work on essential tasks. You can use your journal to write down things that you’re worried about, plans you have for achieving important goals, concerns about a relationship that is draining your energy, or anything that is pulling your attention away from your important work.
Let Go of The Past
Often, your mind clutter is related to your past. Most people keep a vast store of mental drawers in the back of their minds. These drawers are filled with the mistakes we’ve made, the opportunities we’ve missed, and the people who hurt them in the past, and more. Take some time to go through these drawers and discard memories of the past that aren’t serving you well today.
Limit the Amount of Information Coming In
Your mind can quickly get clogged with too much information. This includes everything from the information you get by reading the newspaper, magazines, watching TV, surfing the web, and so on. Create space in your brain by limiting the amount of information that comes into your life. Consider setting a limit on the amount of time you spend on social media, unsubscribe from blogs you don’t read regularly, cancel magazine subscriptions, and decide what information is relevant to you and get rid of the rest.
Be Decisive
If you put off making decisions, your mind will start to overflow with all of the decisions that you need to make. The solution is to be more decisive. When you let decisions be put on the back burner, they can quickly clutter your mind and make you lose your focus on what’s important.
Mental clutter leads to unhelpful congestion in our inner world. It can get in the way of being able to focus on what really matters. Use these practical tips to help you declutter your mind so you can free up more mental space and gain more mental clarity.