Spring, a Time to Clear Your Mind

Posted by martin.parnell |
Spring, a Time to Clear Your Mind

Recently, I was in the doctor’s waiting room and picked up a magazine that had a detailed article on how to go about “Spring Cleaning”. It even went to the extent of providing a “check list” in order that one could tick off the tasks, as each one was accomplished. 

It got me thinking that this is an exercise that could also apply to your job. 

Maybe it’s a good time to take stock and have a clear out in that area too. It might be the really simple things, like ditching all those broken pencils that are in your desk drawer or de-cluttering your desk. It could be there are some bigger things; getting rid of all those manuals that are out-of-date, shredding that pile of paperwork you no longer need, getting around to all that filing you’ve been meaning to do. Set aside some time and get them done. 

You might need to tackle some larger issues, for instance, are those old policies up for review? Is that handbook out-of-date? Is there stuff you should have available online, rather than in paper form?  Do you need to be more organised? Getting rid of things can be cathartic, whether they are taking up space on a desk, in a drawer or on a laptop. 

That, of course, only applies to the practical side of things. But there’s another, important part of our lives that might need an overhaul and that’s all the clutter in our minds. Is all that stuff in your head preventing you from being productive? 

In an article on theYour Story website, entitled “Three ways to declutter your mind and maximise productivity”, Sonal Mishra suggests three ways that will help you make space for a stress-free, emotionally-calm and productive environment: 

Make a to-do list

You don’t need to store everything in your head. Whether digitally or on a paper, write down everything that comes into your mind. Choose a tool – it can be a notepad on your desktop, a smartphone, or even an app on your phone. Now use this device to store the bits and pieces of information that you need to remember. From paying bills to forming new marketing strategies and motivating the workforce, writing down your agenda for the week will help you find respite from the constant chatter inside your head. While writing down each point, observe and evaluate the significance of every task. 

Review and Compartmentalise

 It is difficult for two objects to occupy the same space at the same time. If you choose to clutter your mind with negative thoughts or irrelevant ones, motivational and positive thoughts will have to take a back seat and wait for their turn. This is definitely not the best practice, especially if you want to walk the path of success. You have to choose between negative and positive thoughts. Differentiate between productive and unproductive ones, and get rid of the ones that aren’t doing anything good for you. Spend five minutes every day to note down at least five things that you are grateful for. Appreciating what you have, which could be anything from a supportive family to an enthusiastic team will help you see the brighter shades of your life. 

Stop Multitasking

Stanford University research confirms that a spreading of our focus over too many activities is not in our best interests, stating that multitasking decreases productivity by as much as 40 percent. Since our brain is wired to only focus on one thing at a time, multitasking adversely impacts efficiency and performance in the long run. The brain lacks the ability and the capacity to perform more than two tasks successfully.  Follow your to-do list and stick to the schedule. While performing these steps, turn off your phone notifications and other distractions to minimise interruptions. Cell phones, e-mail, and all the other cool and slick gadgets in our daily lives can cause massive losses in our creative output and overall productivity. Your immediate surroundings play an important role in your mental health. 

Make sure you keep your room and workspace clutter-free as much as possible. By sticking to a routine, reorganising priorities, and evaluating the environment, you can avoid burning out and stay focused on both short and long term goals. 

Now’s the time. Make a list, give yourself a time limit, make it achievable and just do it. 

You’ll feel much better for it.

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