Hello, March! March is the month of the Oscars, Spring Break, Day Light Savings Time, Saint Patrick’s Day, Easter and the first day of Spring is even on March 20th. March is a time of awakening and rebirth, and there is always that feeling of lightheartedness as the flowers begin to bloom and the tree branches spout new buds. Spring is also the time of year I prioritize decluttering the mind.
SPRING CLEANING AND DECLUTTERING THE MIND IS A MUST
My motivation also perks up because March is a verb, so each year I have a strong desire to take action, such as removing unnecessary clutter from an often overcrowded area, my head. Instead of my closet or make-up drawers needing a spring cleaning, my problem is the overabundance of information stored in my head after the long winter months.
You may ask, “How do you declutter your mind of so many thoughts?”
I have to make a conscious effort to reorganize what is going on in my daily lifestyle to spring clean and declutter the mind.
Darling, a great deal more ‘clutter’ is housed inside heads than inside homes! The head is cluttered with a wide-range of interests and at times, unease. I honestly wish it were your homes that needed a declutter job because it would be far easier to declutter one large home then one small head.
THE SYMPTOMS OF A CLUTTERED MIND
In the hustle and bustle of life, it’s all too easy for our minds to become as cluttered as a drawer filled to the brim with long-forgotten treasures and trinkets. Recognizing the signs of a cluttered mind is just like opening that drawer and realizing it’s time for a tidy-up! Here are some signs that your mind could use a decluttering.
- Lying awake at night with a carousel of spinning thoughts.
- Feeling overwhelmed by even simple decisions.
- Persistent feeling of fatigue, despite resting.
- Poor concentration when completing even simple things.
- Fun tasks feel heavy but used to bring joy.
- Easy frustration over what should be considered a minor problem.
Darling, consider these gentle nudges from your mind saying, “It’s time to declutter!”
When you choose to declutter your mind you are prioritizing peace and clarity.
IS NEGATIVITY CLUTTERING YOUR MIND?
You may have to learn to prioritize positive thoughts (which is easier said than done). But first you must start by disposing of negative feelings. Negativity, dear reader, will clutter the mind more than anything else. It sneaks in, often unnoticed, through the cracks of self-doubt, fear, and disappointment. Negativity spreads its baggage and clutter around your mind. Each negative thought acts as a piece of clutter, taking up precious space that could otherwise be filled with creativity and peace.
Have you noticed how a messy room hinders productivity? When your mind is full of negativity it struggles to find clarity and purpose. Too much stress and worry creates a negative and cluttered mind. If you practice managing stress you’ll be on your way to getting rid of negativity and decluttering your mind. Of course, I have learned there is no magic elixir to cure anything, but here are some practical ideas to try when decluttering the mind.
STRATEGIES FOR DECLUTTERING THE MIND
Decluttering the mind should happen regularly, just like tidying up the living room. Here are some strategies for you to try when you notice your mental space is getting messy.
Mindfulness and Meditation
Start or end your day by meditating; it will center your thoughts. Similarly, guided breathing exercises can calm the mind, reduce stress, and kick negativity to the curb.
Write it Down
Journal about your thoughts, feelings, and worries each day to analyze them and get them out of your head onto paper. Keeping a gratitude journal helps to shine a light on the positive aspects of your life and release negative thoughts.
Prioritize and Organize Goals
Create daily or weekly to-do lists. This will organize your tasks and reduce the overwhelm of mental clutter. Define clear, achievable goals for both the short term and long term to focus your mental energy in a helpful way. If you want to start a new goal, I have a FREE guide to help you set it and achieve it. You can download that here.
Digital Detox
Limit your daily screen time to reduce information overload. It can help you declutter your mind if you take regular breaks from social media and disconnect from the noise.
Physical Activity for Mental Health
Use physical activity, such as walking, yoga, or biking, to help clear the clutter in your mind and boost endorphins.
Get Creative to Declutter
Creative hobbies like music, dance, painting, drawing, or crafting can help with clutter. These outlets can help you express emotions and reduce stress.
Learn to Say No
Keeping clutter out of your mind is easier if you know your boundaries. Learn to say no to commitments that don’t align with your priorities and have the fortitude to hit DELETE when a relationship or obligation is not contributing to your well-being.
CHOOSE TO PRIORITIZE POSITIVITY AND DECLUTTER NEGATIVITY
If you are feeling overwhelmed with too much mental clutter as we start this fresh spring season, here is a quote for you:
“We should start choosing our thoughts like we choose our clothes for the day.” — Farnoosh Brock
I have an idea.
We all have negative and positive thoughts in our cluttered heads. Let’s try to get rid of as much negative clutter as we can. Positive clutter confirms you are living an interesting life. Your cup is full; you are doing and going, you are creative, you are curious and learning. Keeping a mind full of positivity and ridding of negative clutter is not easy, especially for worriers. Decluttering the mind is a process, my dears, a process! But it is an important journey to start. Just think, you will begin to make room for more positivity, joy, optimism, serenity, and ultimately, happiness. And what’s more, a quiet and peaceful clutter-free mind will allow you to think about all the positive things in live you can partake in. Spring to it!
Do you have a friend who is so busy they are dizzy? Consider sharing this story on decluttering the mind with them!
If you enjoyed reading this story, you would love my Instagram feed. I personally invite you to come follow along!
