"Decluttering And Spring Cleaning Mentally" by Dr. Hazel A. Claiborn

 “HOW TO MENTALLY DECLUTTERING AND SPRING CLEANING”

WRITTEN BY DR. HAZEL A. CLAIBORN

SPRING IS IN THE AIR AND OUR FIRST THOUGHTS AROUND THE HOUSE IS, ITS TIME TO ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND SPRING CLEAN.  DURING THE WINTER MONTHS THE HOUSE COLLECTS DUST, COB-WEBS, AND ALL TYPES OF BUILD UP ON THE FLOORS FROM THE OUTSIDE, DIRT, GRIME, AND SALT; ESPECIALLY IF YOU LIVE IN A SNOWY CLIMATE.

DID YOU KNOW MOST OF US HAVE A MIND FULL OF CLUTTER? A CLUTTERED MIND IS RESTLESS AND UNFOCUSED. ITS TIME TO CLEAN IT OUT!

MENTAL CLUTTER CAN INCLUDE- WORRYING ABOUT THE FUTURE, STRESSING OVER THE PAST, COMPLAINTS, AND NOT FORGIVING YOURSELF AND OTHERS.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN An OVERLY CLUTTER SPACE AND YOU ARE TRYING TO THINK BUT YOU ARE SO DISTRACTED BY THE CHAOS?  ITS TRUE. LESS IS MORE; AND LESS IS LESS STRESSFUL WHEN IT COMES TO OUR MINDS.

HERE ARE A FEW TIPS TO USE WHEN SPRING CLEANING MENTALLY:

1. LET GO OF THE PAST- MIND CLUTTER IS OFTEN RELATED TO THE PAST. OPEN THE MENTAL CABINETS AND THROW OUT PAST MISTAKES, MISSED OPPORTUNITIES, PEOPLE WHO HAVE HURT YOU, PAST GRIEF, AND SO ON.

1. PHYSICAL CLUTTER LEADS TO MENTAL CLUTTER (TAKE TIME THIS SPRING AND GET RID OF ALL THOSE OLD CLOTHES, SHOES, PURSES, NICK NACKS, ETC…)

1. KEEP A JOURNAL INSTEAD OF TRYING TO KEEP A BRAIN LOAD OF MENTAL NOTES. -WRITE DOWN YOUR THOUGHTS.

 

1. STOP MULTI-TASKING- CHOOSE WHAT’S IMPORTANT-CLEAR ONE AREA AT A TIME. TAKING ON TOO MUCH AT ONCE IS USUALLY DISCOURAGING AND DISTRACTING. NOTHING GETS DONE.

1. LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF INFO COMING INTO YOUR BRAIN. LIMIT MEDIA BROWSING, THE INTERNET, PHONE/ TABLETS USAGE, BLOG READING, ETC…. INSTEAD CHOOSE RELEVANT INFO AND DISREGARD EVERYTHING ELSE

1. BE DECISIVE.  IF YOU PUT OFF MAKING DECISIONS, YOUR BRAIN WILL SOON BE OVERFLOWING WITH A TON OF DECISIONS YOU NEED TO MAKE.  MAKE DECISIONS AS THEY COME AND DO NOT PROCRASTINATE.

1. PRIORITIZE.  STOP CREATING ENDLESS “TO DO” LISTS. ACCEPT THAT YOU CAN NOT DO IT ALL!  MAKE A SHORT LIST OF TOP PRIORITIES AND STICK TO IT.

1. LEARN TO MAKE TIME FOR GOD.  DEVOTION, PRAYER, FASTING, ATTENDING CHURCH, ETC…  THIS WILL KEEP YOUR MIND STAYED ON THE LORD AND ALSO CLEAR  YOUR BRAIN OF UNNECESSARY CLUTTER.