Release Mind Clutter
Jackson Pollock, painter
Do you ever have so many thoughts twirling around your brain that it feels as cluttered as a room full of stuff? It seems like our thoughts have nowhere to go and that our heads could burst. We jump from one idea to the next. We lose focus. We feel frazzled. We have no clarity. Details and minutia cloud the big picture. This is mind clutter.
I’ve experienced it and I know many of you have too. Unlike physical clutter, we can’t donate our mind clutter. We can’t toss it in the trash. However, we can do some things. Recently when my mind felt too full, I tried a few techniques that worked. Perhaps a combination of these ideas mixed with some of your own solutions will help you the next time your mind is feeling cluttered.
8 Ways to Release Mind Clutter
Grab a Pen – Whether you prefer traditional writing or typing on a keyboard, recording your thoughts to another medium helps to release and make sense of them. Whether you make a list, short bullet points or long paragraphs, the act of transferring the thoughts will reduce your mind clutter.
Invite a Distraction – Let your mind wander by shifting the focus away from within to an external distraction like watching a movie or reading a book. The focus on a different “story” can help suspend the frazzled feelings.
Unleash Creativity – Pull out the colored pencils, paints or instruments. Bake a cake or knit a sweater. Find a creative outlet to help loosen your thoughts and unclutter your brain.
Be Kind to Self – It’s stressful when our thoughts are cluttered. Feeling this way is temporary. Go easy on yourself during these times. Take good care by getting enough sleep, hydration and nutrition.
Initiate a Conversation – Another great way to release mind clutter is to share your thoughts with a friend or family member. Talking and being listened to, even if there is no resolution, can be a great way to gain perspective and organize your thoughts.
Change the Scenery – Getting away from your customary environment to another location, can help to reduce mind clutter. It could be something simple like going for a walk or more elaborate like exploring a new town or destination.
Play Some Tunes – Listening to music can greatly improve your mood and help release extraneous thoughts. Singing or dancing along is an added benefit. I’ve recently started hula hooping to loud, upbeat music. Aside from being fun, it’s great exercise and helps me refocus.
Eat Some Chocolate – I admit that eating chocolate goes against my healthy eating and exercising suggestions. It’s just that as a chocolate lover, I have to fess up that indulging in a bit of it helps me when my mind gets too cluttered. There are some other benefits to eating chocolate. The operative word here is moderation. I’m not suggesting a chocolate-fest, but a piece or two.
I’d love to hear your thoughts about releasing internal clutter. What works for you when your mind is cluttered?