[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Did you know that clutter occupies mental space? Be it physical or mental clutter, if our head is busy we have a hard time being productive and creative. We can even feel overburdened and overwhelmed. So, let us see how to put order and that way clear our mind.
The unresolved takes up mental space
Papers piling up on the desk, things out of their place, accumulating things we do not use anymore. Whether we like it or not, all this mess occupies space in our head. Consciously or subconsciously we remember it, remember that we should sort it, throw it away, donate it or whatever.
But amongst clutter we can also count unresolved issues. Tasks and errands to do, problems to solve, things we should do but postpone; all this also takes up space in our mind.
Why putting order helps us
Sorting out our home, office and, not least, our head has several benefits. The fuller our head with issues the harder time we have to concentrate on our work, fo find motivation to take on a project, to have ideas or to look for solutions.
Putting order creates harmony and, thus, clears our mind. It even gives us a feeling of relief and achievement. So it helps our motivation, inspiration, creativity and productivity.
#Disorder and #clutter occupy space in our #mind. Putting #order helps our #motivation, #inspiration, #creativity and #productivity Share on X
Everything has its place, and there is a place for everything
Be it at home or in the office, it is helpful to establish a place for everything and a routine for putting order. There are organisation systems for everything: kitchen, bathroom, living room, bedroom, cupboards, office. No matter the size of your home or desk, there are solutions and tricks for everything. Actually, you can find all kinds of ideas and tricks on internet, for example on YouTube or Pinterest.
It is also recommendable to organise things by their type and by person and not dispersing them. That way, we will know where to find everything without the need to look in different cupboards.
So choose a room or things you have been avoiding to sort out and get down to work. You might consider it a drag at first. But once you are at it you will see that it creates satisfaction to see the result of your work. Then reserve time another day to tackle another mess or area in need of a better organisation system.
Everything has its place, and there is a place for everything. Put #order in your life in order to clear your #mind Share on X
Keep up the order
Once we have a organisation system, the problem is sometimes to keep it up. Day to day things accumulate, above all papers, letters, purchase receipts but also things we buy. A good trick to keep things sorted is to gather up something every time we enter a room. A shirt for washing left in the bedroom. A pile of magazines for the paper container. The bag you left on the table because this morning you decided to use another one. Sometimes we leave things around thinking that we will arrange them later and that it does not matter. But remember that clutter takes up mental space.
Get rid of what you do not need anymore
Earlier I mentioned that we accumulate things day in day out. If you want to sort out your home, office and mind you need to lose the scruples of getting rid of things.
Consider which papers you can throw away or shred. Why did you keep them and you still need them? Then file them. If not, get rid of them. Are books piling up? Decide which you want to keep and what to do with the rest. Maybe you can sell them second hand or donate them to a library.
Do you have clothes or shoes you do not wear anymore? Maybe they do not fit anymore, are not comfortable or just bore you. The fact is that you have not worn them in a time. So, why not sell them online or donate them? The other day I got out some pairs of shoes that I cannot wear anymore since I have been using inlays. I felt bad about getting rid of them but also about them taking up space for nothing. So I uploaded them to a second-hand app. I have not sold them yet but just the mere fact of having made a decision and taken action has given me a certain relief.
Another thing that accumulates, especially in the case of women, are cosmetics and bath products. That cream that promised miracles but does not work for you. That perfume you received as a gift but do not like. Out-of-date makeup. Have a look at the bathroom cupboard or dressing table and get out everything you actually do not use.
Go through your home and all your things and honestly consider if you need to keep them. Have you heard about the KonMari method? The founder Marie Kondo proposes to ask yourself if a thing makes you happy when seeing it. If not, she recommends to get rid of it.
#Disorder and the accumulation of stuff we do not need anymore occupy space in our #mind. Get rid of everything you do not like or need anymore. Put #order Share on X
Have on your desk only what you need
Thinking about work, throughout the day papers can pile up on our desk: printouts, documents to dispatch, papers others leave us. All these papers demand our attention if they are within sight. They distract us just like smartphone notifications. That is why I recommend you keep them out of your workspace to deal with when it is their turn.
Think up a system that works for your job. It might be a good idea to set up in and out boxes for correspondence and documents. Then I also suggest a folder system by topics: for clients, suppliers, by projects, by months and days. This will depend on the needs for your work. The thing is to keep the documentation classified and being able to locate it easily when needed.
Do you clean up your desk every day? If not, this is another habit to acquire. I usually clean up my desk not only at the end of the day but also before lunch. When I return to my desk, first I get my taks list to assess the priorities and decide the next task to tackle. This is like starting over with a clean slate. If I had the desk full of papers of the previous day or from before lunch, I would get distracted and choose anything within sight.
Piles of papers & documents accumulating on our desk distract our #attention. If you want to improve your #concentration, put #order Share on X
Put order in your head
We have already talked about physical order. But in the beginning I mentioned that not only physical clutter occupies brain space. Throughout the day, tasks come up and errands come to our mind. All these things take up space in our head if we do not write them down. Our memory will keep reminding us until we do them no matter what their importance or urgency. Writing them down helps us classify the issues and decide when the moment is right to do them.
Another risk we run when not writing down things is that we live everything twice in our life. First in our imagination and then in reality. That is why motivation gurus recommend to imagine the achievement of a goal or project because if your mind imagines it like a reality it will be easier to turn it into one.
However, when we have a lot of outstanding issues, our imagination can play a dirty trick on us. Have you ever brooded about something you needed to tell somebody? You remember the issue on your way to work or during lunch. In your mind, you have the email or phone call prepared. Later your get to the office, start working and almost forget about the issue. Having imagined the situation, your mind forgets if it was only imagination or you actually got it done. So, write down the ideas you come up with in order not to be deceived by your mind. Otherwise you might come to think that you already did it or you might remember, but too late.
Do not write down things just anyhow
However, a task list will only be as good as the use you make of it. Writing down errands, tasks and other to-dos clears our mind. But again our mind can play a trick on us making us think that having written something down means having actually done it. So do not note things down just anywhere. Create a system that allows you to have access to your task list and check it in the suitable place and right moment.
Putting #order at home or the office is all very well. But what about your #mind? Do you write down issues and #tasks coming up? #Clearyourmind Share on X
Is your mind clear?
Did you know that clutter means a mental burden? Do you have hard time keeping order? Which are your best tricks to put order?
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2 responses
This is totally speaking to me! I was just telling my partner last night that when our house is a mess, it stresses me out. I totally resonate with the idea that clutter around you clutters your mind. Hoping to go some good organizing and decluttering over the holidays.
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Glad you liked the post. However, I hope you take time to relax and enjoy the holidays.