Physcholgical Clutter

I am one of those people who gets their jollies by organizing and getting rid of clutter – I love to clean the house, organize my sock drawer, put things in their right place, and keep things simple.   I have kept things simple for all of my worldly possessions, but the term “clutter” can also refer to the psychological junk we have going on in our heads; obligations, responsibilities, habits, obsessions, and personality traits.  I have been neglecting my neurological head-space as I trod forward with closet organization and alphabetizing my spice rack and I have come to the conclusion that my head space is a mess.

What is so helpful about freeing up head-space?  I’ve pondered on this a bit, and while organizing the house and tidying are processes that help me navigate my day-to-day life more easily,  the parameters on how I live my life emotionally need a deep cleaning. There is just so much going on in my little brain I am afraid.  I am a perfectionist, I get worked up over things and I feel anxious from time to time.  My head space contains fear, worry, uncertainty – all those things that take up so much energy and rob me of free time.  It’s about time I started working on this stuff.

So – how to organize my head space?  This list below contains some helpful tips on how to clear your head-space from clutter.  Most items in this list are common sense, but they will take a concerted effort to put into practice.

The English Oxford Dictionary defines headspace as:

Time to think clearly or to be free from mental pressures.

1. Breath.  Breath.  Breath.  Yogis measure the length of their life by breathes – breathing 10 times per minute equates to living until you are 100 years of age and breathing 15 times per minute means you will live to 80.  If you breathe fast, your life will be shortened.   Breathing slow and deeply keeps you in the present. Conscious breathing comes from the more evolved areas of the brain in the cerebral cortex.  Activating the cerebral cortex has a relaxing and balancing effect on the emotions. By consciously breathing, you are controlling which aspects of the mind dominate, causing your consciousness to rise from the primitive/instinctual to the evolved/elevated.  The slowing down of your breath has a soothing effect on your emotional state – allowing you to think more clearly and get rid of all the cobwebs inside your head.
2. Get outside.  Get fresh air.  Sometimes something as simple as a walk around the block can be just the ticket.  Why?  Fresh air is good for digestion, improves your blood pressure and heart rate, strengthens your immune system, and most importantly, fresh air cleans your lungs and all that oxygen you are breathing in helps to clean out your head.   A cleaner head means more energy and a sharper mind.
3. Get plenty of sleep.  Sleep allows our brains to recharge and our bodies to rest. When we are well rested, thinking becomes much more clear.
4. Drink lots of water.  Being just half a liter dehydrated can increase your cortisol levels, and cortisol is a stress hormone.   Staying in a good hydrated status can keep your stress levels down. When you don’t give your body the fluids it needs, you’re putting stress on it, and it’s going to respond to that.  Your headspace does not need additional stress placed on it.
5.  Self Care.  Self-care is doing something for yourself or that you enjoy doing. It’s not selfish to pamper yourself, and to take time for yourself.  You will enjoy doing it!  I thought about this over the Christmas  holiday.  I threw a great 3 day party – lists checked off, food cooked, gifts bought – no one lacked for anything.  But at the end of the day I felt spent and anxious – it was time to do something for me.  I soaked in the bath with epsom salts and some bath oils, and was in total bliss.  I felt the pressure on my brain just melt away.

The human mind is rarely quiet. Questions, ideas, and plans seem to pass through our consciousness without much order or purpose sometimes. Knowing how to clear your mind can help with anxiety, sleep difficulties and should be a priority in our lives.  Try to put into practice these simple things on this list – the practice will turn into habit.  And remember – it’s not just the house that needs a deep cleaning!