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Overloaded mind is a breeding ground to burnout and overwhelm. How can we stop this motion of feeling like we don't have the ability to process things around us in the simplest form... Let's first define what we mean by declutter, it's a phrase we all go through in life or everyday situations depending on how much responsibilities and decisions you have to make within a certain timescale. The main cause to an overdrive mind is collecting random information, thoughts, ideas and feeling into one bubble and trying to 'mash' them all together to help solve your problem. So why do we go through this cycle of thoughts? It's because we humans feed into information and source out information as a way for us to solve a problem, we think in critical stages where we tell ourselves- if we do x then we will achieve y an this will result in x=y But, this process is actually the wrong process for our logical brains because once we think we solved 'x=y' we begin to welcome other elements into this process such as feelings, emotions, thoughts from others, opinions and behaviours. Once we begin to welcome these elements this is when it gets complicated, leading to a mental clutter where our brains are in this bubble of unorganised decisions not allowing us to gain clarity. Although, how do you know you achieved clarity if we decluttered our mind? The key answer to this question is asking yourself - the goal/problem you set yourself up to achieve, was it actioned to your highest state of mind or was it a plan which was worthless... Once you begin to form a realisation of knowing (100%) you solved that problem with all alternative ways then you will gain a purpose of achieved clarity as your mind will begin to un-clutter those thoughts and emotions, giving you a sense of 'breathable' clarity. Below are some key approaches to try and stop your mind going into a declutter bubble and help you achieve clarity in it's simplest process: 1. Get off the Autopilot When you operate on the default mode, much unfiltered information reaches your brain and disturbs your mind. You have no idea what you want and go about living passively, taking whatever comes your way. To prevent mental clutter, you must know what you are devouring and how it will help you or harm you. Turning off the autopilot and shifting to the proactive mode helps you become selective. You can live a more purposeful life where the intent is the central theme. You understand what you want and thus take action accordingly to help you give a sense of direction. By becoming proactive, you let yourself take control of the reigns of your life. You become mindful of what you want, and all your thoughts and actions are channelised in that direction. This minimises chaos and decreases the mental clutter drastically. 2. Reduce Cognitive Overload You cannot take in and process unlimited information in your mind. Your brain has a limited capacity and a certain speed at which it works optimally. If you burden yourself with too much stuff or try to handle too many tasks simultaneously, you run the risk of overwhelm and burnout. To decrease your cognitive overload, give yourself time to complete tasks and take up one thing at a time. As much as possible, chunk the bigger project or task into simpler and manageable pieces that you can finish in a small amount of time. Also, make sure to give yourself short breaks between two jobs, as we humans cannot multitask. Start with small changes. Tiny tweaks in your working method can go a long way in preventing mental clutter, overwhelm and frustration. 3. Filter out Distractions Distractions are one of the significant sources of disruption of peace and order in your life. Your mind is occupied by numerous useless things and is forced to focus in infinite different directions. Distractions lead to clutter, confusion and mental fog, decreasing your brain’s processing power to handle stuff. This impairs your ability to concentrate, raises your stress levels, and therefore takes a toll on your mental well-being. When you stop entertaining distractions and start to block them, you’ll be able to zoom in on your priorities and deepen your focus on the task at hand. This will give you a sense of being more in control of yourself, and you’ll be able to do what you want without anything stealing your attention. 4. Manage your Thoughts Your mind is constantly filled with thoughts, mostly passively and at the subconscious level. With so much unwanted stuff and thousands of negative thoughts swirling in your mind, your mind gets messed up and this causes great distress in your life. To ease yourself up and clear the mental clutter, get into the habit of thought dumping. Pour all thoughts on a piece of paper or a notebook and do it freely, uninhibitedly, and without judging yourself. The process of thought dumping will also give you relief from the rumination and loops of thoughts running in the background of your mind. Next, start processing your thoughts by first examining them and figuring out the patterns. Once you can identify the problems around which your thoughts are centered, single out the issues and address them one by one. This will empower you to gain control over your thoughts and declutter your mind. 5. Don’t bottle up your feelings When your mind is overwhelmed with emotions, you cannot take up any task and do justice to it. Your mind will keep referring to the sticky feelings, and this rehashing keeps you trapped in a negative state of mind. To free yourself of mental clutter, you must devise your own coping mechanisms and strategies. I hope these approaches will enable you to begin decluttering your mind and begin to ask yourself why are you thinking this way about a particular problem. Likes and comments are welcome. Thank you for listening. Don't forget to Subscribe to hear more about how to empower and change your mindset for a healthy work-life balance. Be the best you can be by Chandni Patel at Make a Difference