Decluttering Your Mind

Decluttering Your Mind

If you missed the beginning of the series, you can check out the first post, “Living Simply, Living Abundantly,” here.  We talked about how to prepare for the process of moving toward the life Jesus promised, which is simple, content, focused, and generous. 

Many would think to start with your physical items, but I’ve found if my mind isn’t set right, then it’s twice as hard to simplify my environment. So this week, we’re going to work on decluttering our minds.  

Many of Jesus’ teachings centered around how our thoughts direct us. He said adultery doesn’t start with an action but with a thought. The same is true for murder. To live a simple and peaceful life, we must be mindful of our thoughts. We must be aware of the negative thoughts that can lead to harmful actions. We need to replace these negative thoughts with Jesus-centered ones. And when we have our minds straight, it is much easier for our actions to follow. 

So here are some steps to decluttering your mind.

1. Meditate. Meditation has a new-age flavor in our modern culture, but the Bible constantly talks about us meditating on the scriptures. Meditation is simply a method of focusing on God and letting everything else fade away.
2. Practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment and aware of your thoughts, feelings, and surroundings without judgment. For Jesus’ followers, it’s about being aware of the people we meet and our interactions. Jesus was always extremely mindful of what and who was around him.
3. Set priorities. We talked about his last week, but knowing what is worth your thinking time and not is important to decluttering your thoughts. Are the things you’re putting into your brain worth the memories they will create?
4. Limit information overload. In today’s world, we are constantly bombarded with information. This can be overwhelming and can lead to information overload.  Journaling is a great way to remove the thoughts and information from your brain and put it somewhere that makes it easier to process. This is also why the concept of a second brain has become popular in recent years. 
5. Take breaks from screens. Unplug from screens when possible and spend time in nature or doing other activities that you enjoy. Not only is it good for your brain, but it’s also good for the rest of your body.
6. Get enough sleep. When you are well-rested, you are better able to focus and think clearly.  Sleep is a reset for your brain and body; aim for 6-8 hours minimum. And when you’re able, allow your body to wake up naturally.  (don’t worry; I only get this once every month or two, so start where you can.)
7. Exercise regularly. Exercise releases endorphins, which have mood-boosting effects and increase your confidence and focus, removing brain fog.
8. Eat a healthy diet. Eating a healthy diet can help to improve your overall health and well-being: low carbs, high protein, and colorful veggies.
9. Spend time with loved ones. Spending time with loved ones can help to reduce stress and anxiety and remind you that you’re not in this life alone.
10. Do something you enjoy. Make time for activities you enjoy, such as reading, listening to music, or spending time in nature.  It helps your brain switch gears and focus on new things, which creates dopamine and helps your brain work better by stretching its neuro pathways. Thinking the same things all the time literally creates a thinking rut that makes change harder the longer you think about the same things.

As with all how-tos, pick one or two places to start, and when you have those under your belt, try adding another one or two until you’ve got a squeaky clean mind. 

Stay Weird