“I’ve got a lot on my mind.” This has to be one of the most oft-repeated complaints of the over-stressed among us, and perhaps a starting place from which to craft meaningful New Year’s Resolutions.
Advice abounds this time of year about de-cluttering your kitchen, your basement or your living room. But what about the clutter that’s over-working your mind? Now is the moment to clear the decks for a fresh start in the new year.
1) Schedule Quiet Time into Your Day
“Your mind will answer most questions if you learn to relax and wait for the answer,” said the mid-century American writer William S. Burroughs. You can’t relax and wait, however, if every waking minute of your day is already spoken for. Look at your calendar and see where there might be room for a 15-minute walk here, a weekend catnap there or just 10 deep, slow breaths. Literally entering that small relaxing space into your calendar will not only remind you to follow through, it will place quiet time as high on your priority list as meetings, errands and other obligations. Your reward might be some answers you’ve been seeking.
2) Clear Your Physical Space
Don’t worry, I’m not trying to trick you into taking on a huge clutter-clearing project just so you can have peace of mind. But any steps you take toward spending your day in an organized, uncluttered environment will help free your mind from distractions and “why-haven’t-I-cleaned-that-drawer-yet” guilt. You might want to identify one place in your home or office that is the worst saboteur of your inner peace, and try to remove five items from it. Return another time for another five, repeating as time allows until your clear space matches your clear mind.
3) Move Your Body
Exercise is as good for brains as it is for waistlines. Research shows that aerobic exercise training, in which your heart rate increases and your breathing deepens, can actually prevent age-related memory loss. A brisk walk could take you farther than around a pond or through a neighborhood. It could actually stimulate your brain to keep your thinking clear, your energy refreshed and your mind focused.
What clutters your mind? How do you clear it?
