Decluttering Your Mind and Feeling Good About It

By Donna Kostiew

The bills need to be paid. Your car is making that wonky sound again. Your child needs their uniform washed (Do you even know where the uniform is?). The plans for dinner have changed, again. You need to make that dentist appointment. And you are starting to wonder if you really should have made that post on Facebook. So many thoughts and distractions … will they ever stop?

The average mind is filled every day with what many call “mental clutter.” It’s the chatter, the worry, the planning that is constantly going on in our heads during the day. And while some of this is completely normal, the rest can be downright stressful and distracting.

Clearing the Clutter

The list of people that are feeling the effects of mental clutter is increasing as the world is becoming more and more fast-paced. We basically have an electronic encyclopedia in our hands 24/7 supplying us with loads of new information every day … and it’s not always information that is useful. With time, patience, and a concerted effort though, you can train yourself to declutter your mind almost as quickly as it fills up. Here are some useful strategies.

• Focus – I know, I know. You’re already aware that you need to focus more, but perhaps you aren’t giving yourself permission to do so. By this, I mean it is OK to tell yourself to ignore that to-do-list sitting in front of you. Focus only on the task you are working on. If you find your mind wandering to the next thing that needs to be done, say “focus” out loud. Say it a couple of times if you have to. It is definitely more effective than simply thinking it.
• Declutter your space – Physical clutter in your home or workspace has a negative impact on your mental health, so it may be time to grab the recycling and trash cans and clean house. It is harder to cut through the mental clutter when you are living in physical clutter.
• Eat healthy foods – We all know that what we eat can affect everything in our bodies, including our mental processing. So in order to clear your brain of clutter, you should stick to clean eating. Not only will this help, but it may also have a positive effect on other health issues such as anxiety and ADHD.
• Write it down – Putting pen to paper and writing things down will essentially move those items from your brain to the page. So take your shopping lists, your medical appointments, your children’s sports schedules and all the other things you need to remember to do out of your brain and move them to paper. It will free up so much space in your mind.

Clearing the clutter out of your brain may seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Small changes are enough to balance your life and your mind.

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Johns Creek, Ga.