Organize + Energize: 7 Tips On Clearing Mental Clutter

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Kristin MacRae, GoLocalWorcester Organizing Expert

Mental clutter can be just as, if not more, troublesome than physical clutter. Follow these tips to reduce stress and feel more at ease.

Mental clutter, how it depletes your energy and productivity.

Mental clutter causes distraction, anxiety, and stress. You can’t think clearly and focus when you are consumed by mental clutter. Mental and physical clutter will deplete you of your energy and decrease your productivity. Don’t we have enough stress already? This is a stressor that we can control, so why not get yourself and your thoughts organized.

Here are 7 tips to help you with mental clutter:

1. Save time looking for things.

Have a home for everything in your home and office. Know where everything is and be able to find it quickly without too much thinking involved.

2. Reduce paper piles.

How does it make you feel when you walk into somebody’s home or office and see piles of paper everywhere? If you are disorganized, think about the vibe you are sending out about how you live and work. Looking at the piles throughout the day will cause mental stress and anxiety.

3. Plan, prepare and write things down.

We all have many things going on at once. Very rarely do we have a clear head. Get all your thoughts about what you have to do, where you have to be and what you have to schedule out of your mind and onto paper/electronics. This will greatly reduce your mental clutter.

4. Think about how you are viewed by people or potential clients.

Have you missed important appointments or missed out on potential clients because you couldn’t locate a phone number or couldn’t remember when you were supposed to attend a meeting? Get yourself organized mentally and physically and watch your personal life and business flourish.

5. Find time to physically declutter.

Make a plan to declutter on your off time. Weekends would be better. If you decide to do it after work, you may be too tired and stressed from the day and the last thing you want to do is tear apart your home or office. Plan to do it during a time when you have little to no distractions. Physical clutter = mental clutter.

6. Clear the mental clutter before you go to bed.

Are you waking up in the middle of the night thinking of things you need to get done the next day? Are you thinking about what needs to get done at work? Write it down before you go to bed. Keep paper and pen by your bed. If you wake up in the middle of the night, jot down your thoughts to have a restful sleep.

7. Remember to eat healthy and exercise which will help with mental clutter.

Take a peaceful walk without music and take in your surroundings. You will think clearer and be more focused after you exercise. Not eating a healthy diet will make you feel sluggish and you will not be productive. You will have more energy to tackle all of the above if you eat a healthy diet.

Tackle the mental clutter, get your thoughts organized and get energized!

Kristin Carcieri-MacRae, the founder and owner of Organizing in RI, has always enjoyed finding creative ways to streamline the environment around her. Kristin has appeared on air on www.talkstreamradio.com and Patricia Raskin's Positive Business Radio. Her articles have been published in the Rhode Island Small Business Journal and New England Home Life. Her CD, Organizing Basics, is a 1-hour guide for the person who wants to get organized but doesn't know where to start and is available at the following locations listed here. She is also available for organizing workshops.