5 Tips to Spring Clean Your Mind
You did it!
The house is spotless. You’ve vacuumed the car. Your desk literally embodies the word “organized.” Spring cleaning is done for the year, right? Wrong!
There’s one space still in need of tidying…and it’s perhaps the most important: your mind.
In other words, those hanging files you meticulously arranged will do you no good if your head is still a jumbled mess. Or, to put it another way, if you’re struggling to know how to improve concentration, how to stay focused, or how to better practice mindfulness, removing the “clutter” in your brain will always represent a step in the right direction. Here’s our top five concentration tips:
Declutter Your Mind to Improve Concentration and Increase Productivity
1. Make a To-Do List
Despite all the paper and digital tools at our disposal, chances are there’s long to-do list stuck in your head. It probably consists of stuff you never get around to like replacing the battery in your garage door opener, donating a bag of clothes sitting in your closet, reviewing your insurance policies to make sure you’ve got all the coverage you need.
While individually, these are simple, quick tasks, collectively they’re weighing you down. Simply taking a few minutes to list them out (either on a piece of paper, or using the “notes” app on your phone) will provide immediate stress relief. That’s because once the list is created, you’ll be better able to gauge its scope (and it’s probably not nearly as bad as you thought it was).
2. Set Aside Time to Complete Your To-Do List
Now that you’ve got everything down on paper, there’s a good chance much of the list can be checked off in an afternoon.
Block off some time over a weekend (or even better, on a weekday if you have some PTO you need to burn) and commit to working through the list.
With each task you complete, expect a nice feeling of weight being lifted from your shoulders.
3. Eliminate Extraneous Sources of Information and Stimulation
Social media, for example, can be a great way to keep tabs on your classmates from high school. However, staying in the know about every little nugget of gossip and drama pertaining to people you’re only marginally acquainted with is likely not the best use of your valuable time and finite mental bandwidth.
The same potentially holds true with watching reality TV, listening to talk radio, and staying current with celebrity news.
Instead, maybe only watch your absolute favorite shows. Take 20 minutes and unsubscribe from the dozens of emails that clog your inbox. Finally, consider limiting your social media use to a few nights each week. Even if several days have passed since you last checked your feed, chances are you really didn’t miss anything.
4. Devise a System to Reduce the Number of Mundane Decisions You Need to Make
Picking out an outfit, in and of itself, is not terribly difficult. However, a long series of small decisions can reduce your capacity to make large decisions. We’re talking about stuff like what to make for dinner (and, in turn, what to pick up at the grocery store on the way home). We’re also talking about decisions such as when to do laundry, clean, shop, etc.
Instead of making decisions on the fly, consider planning your outfits and meals for the week. Possibly take advantage of the online order/pickup services many grocery stores now offer. Also establish dedicated times to do laundry (preferably when you’re watching that favorite reality show you allow yourself) as well as clean.
5. Replace Worry with Problem Solving
Among the many things that clutter our minds, worry is probably the most destructive and least constructive. Despite this fact, if we’re not careful, we can spend an awful lot of time worrying about stuff.
If you catch yourself fretting about something, acknowledge the stress and then take some time to devise a solution.
Standing Desk Accessories: Your Secret Weapon to Increase Concentration
More and more people are discovering that standing desks can help enhance focus, which can in turn boost productivity. Stand Up Desk Store offers a full range of full-size standing desks, as well as standing desk converters that let you keep the desk you already have.
We hope you found these mindfulness and concentration tips helpful! Happy Spring!
