Do you ever feel like your brain has at least 50 tabs open, where everything around you becomes foggy, and you lose your ability to produce a single thought? This is what we call mind clutter. We’re no strangers to it, either, but we have found a few ways to treat it! Here are some ways to declutter your mind.
Get Some Sleep
If your mind is feeling particularly cloudy, there’s a good chance you just need some sleep. If you have trouble falling asleep, ensure your bedroom is cool, turn on some nature sounds, and turn off screens an hour before hitting the hay. With adequate sleep, you should notice a change in your ability to focus.
Prioritize Your Day
Doing too many things at once or having a massive to-do list can make a day overwhelming before it even begins. Instead, set aside some time to think about what you want to accomplish that day and prioritize things in a way that makes sense to you. You may find there are even some tasks you can delegate to clear your plate a bit.
Declutter Your Environment
Your surroundings can affect how your mind works, so we encourage you to tidy up your space and see if this makes you feel better. If so, consider taking a few minutes each day to organize.
Practice Time Blocking
Time blocking goes hand-in-hand with prioritizing your to-do list. It is a way to divide your day or week into smaller segments or blocks for specific tasks. For instance, if constantly checking work emails throughout your day is distracting, designate time slots devoted to emails – and don’t give them a second thought at any other time.
Take a Break
Sometimes when our minds feel cluttered or too busy, all we need to do is step away from it all. Get a few minutes of fresh air, do some stretching, take a couple of deep breaths, then revisit what you stepped away from.
Prioritize Unwinding
After you’ve wrapped up your work day, take some time to decompress and naturally clear your mind. You could do yoga, water your plants, read, or just sit quietly for a while.
Limit Your Social Media Time
Social media tends to promote feelings of inadequacy, loneliness, and depression. A little bit of time spent on the ‘Gram is fine, but step away when it starts to feel too much. Try turning off notifications or putting your phone on “do not disturb.”
Journal
Sometimes it feels good to write down your thoughts on paper. Whether it’s work tasks, personal stuff, or anything in between, try writing down what happened and how you feel, pondering solutions as you go.
Get a Second Opinion
Sometimes when it comes to decluttering your mind, you just have to let it all out to the right person, whether it’s a friend, a family member, or a therapist.