Copyright © 2021 Lee Spirit

It has felt like a bit of a crazy week here! Do you ever have weeks when your sink is full of dishes, and laundry is all over the place? Or when everything is dirty, and cluttered with home-office and home-gym? Maybe it seems like everyone is messaging you at the same time, your inbox is full, and you have four webinars to watch? The provincial budget is being dropped, you have meetings, a performance review, and it’s tax time? Well, often when the external circumstances of our lives are seemingly in disarray, we have some serious mind clutter to wash away!

Our external worlds are often a reflection of what is going on inside our minds. So when you notice the big mess all around you, there is mind clutter. Or if you can’t get your head around the emails in your inbox and have to skip and delete them, it’s another clue. How can we wash away the debris in our heads so that we can sleep, and live more in our peaceful, grounded centre?

Mind Clutter and the Feeling of Overwhelm

Overwhelm is something that can happen to the best of us, and it sucks the life out of us! When too many things are coming at you all at once, how do you manage it all? Is it good to be a multi-tasker, or does this take us away from the present moment? I often find that when I’m overwhelmed – like right now – I just have to take a step back and walk away from it for a while. I need to re-group, clear my head, or go for a walk in the trees. This allows creativity and inspiration to flow more naturally from my neutral state, rather than from my frazzled state. With a clear mind, there is clarity about what to focus on next.

One Thing At a Time

It may be tempting to pride yourself on your multi-tasking ability, which I often do! But when you can’t focus, it’s best to do one task at a time. Give it your full attention until it is complete. This is present-moment awareness. When you can master it, you’ll find that you complete tasks quicker than trying to do many things at once. Not to mention, you may do the job better with your attention fully focused on it.

Clean Up the Mind Clutter By Cleaning Up

When I can’t get my head around the bombardment of emails in my inbox, it helps to just unsubscribe from those you aren’t looking at anyways. Less emails means less clutter. Every morning I have a ritual of checking phone, email, social media, stats, and doing some business. But instead of making technology the first priority, it might be helpful to take a few moments of silent reflection and meditation.

Noticing the beautiful sunrise through the window instead of sticking my face in front of screens can do wonders. I can start my day from a place of peace. Eating my breakfast and making coffee before screen-time gives me a few minutes to savour the taste. I then feel satisfied and relaxed before the day begins. Also, making sure the bed is made, dishes are done, and garbage is taken out can do wonders for clearing the mind!

Purging your physical space is a great way to refresh your current space, and also to make room for new things. Before Covid happened, I did a huge purge, taking many items to Good Will and freeing up my space. I moved furniture around, and made a point of putting new art on the walls that reflects my soul.

Decrease the Mind Clutter, Increase the Exercise

I’m not one who really likes to workout in the mornings, although I did that for years. But it really helps get the blood flowing when you introduce even a little bit of exercise into your morning routine.

For instance, kundalini, or any yoga or stretching routine can get the juices flowing just enough to give your day an energy boost. The added benefit of mindful breath exercises in kundalini yoga can flush out toxins and clear out negativity and clutter. Going for a brisk walk is something I do every lunch hour to give my legs a stretch, and clear my mind with some fresh air and vitamin D from the sun.

Lately I do exercise in the evenings. It doesn’t really matter when you do it, as long as you do something you enjoy that works for your schedule. With Covid-19 closing the gyms, I’ve had to rethink how I do things. I’ve been enjoying my outdoor exercise more, even in the cold and snow. No matter what you do or where, the fresh, oxygenated blood running through your veins and to your brain will certainly clear the mind clutter. You will have new space to be productive in your days.

Check out the photo with this post – A gorgeous BC waterfall that can help wash away the clutter of our minds – Just by standing next to it, feeling its spray, and listening to the rush of the falls instead of the voices in our heads.

Let Go and Release

Oftentimes we cannot be productive when we’re holding onto thoughts, feelings, or emotions from the past. Nor are we productive when there are worries about the future, or present moment notions that stifle our forward momentum.

Grief is not really something we let go of. It’s not something to push aside and disregard. Rather, it must be felt in full, for as long as it takes to transcend it. We can transcend grief through present moment gratitude and focus on the beauty of all that surrounds us. We will start to see our loved ones emerge in the blossoming flowers of Spring, in the rays of sunlight through the trees, and in the rainbow above the rushing waterfall.

Just as we can transcend grief, we can let go of thoughts, feelings, and emotions that no longer serve us by choosing to let go. Instead, we can choose to start making positive, healthy choices for ourselves.

Stress, Anxiety and Poor Sleep

Mind clutter can really make you feel exhausted and mentally drained. It can contribute to feelings of depression, or it can keep you up all night worrying about everything that might happen.

Often to relieve these feelings, we turn to alcohol, Facebook scrolling, and TV to wind down before bed. What we don’t realize is that these are actually keeping us from having adequate sleep. Then we wake up cranky the next day and take it out on others.

When we realize the importance of quiet meditation and turning off the screens a couple hours before bedtime, we reap the benefits of changing our bad habits into productive ones. When we get a good sleep, it makes us more mentally resilient and less flustered by even the craziest of days.

We don’t want to suffer the health consequences of poor sleep, stress, and anxiety. So it’s best to keep this in check for our health and wellbeing.

Reduce Mind Clutter and Sleep Soundly

As you can see, by cultivating healthy breathing, eating, drinking, and exercising habits, you can reduce stress and anxiety. You are able to let go of what no longer serves you, and enjoy a restful sleep at night. Learn to reduce your mind clutter and sleep well.

Lee Spirit is an avid outdoors adventurer with a love for nature, photography, health & fitness, wellness, and spirituality. Her own personal journey has led her to the  study and practice of mindfulness, health, wellness, yoga, spirituality, sound healing, meditation, and personal development for over 20 years. Sign Up Here for a Free Mind Healing Report and Newsletter!