“All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.” ~Havelock Ellis
How many of us can say that there is nothing that troubles us? Despite knowing there is a source of our troubles, we fail to recognize and uproot it. We keep dragging on all the things that make us unhappy until we are forced to let go. With all the myriad of tensions surrounding us in daily life, it becomes pertinent to free our minds of all that happens around us. Be it studies, careers, or relationships, at times they all become too demanding. At such a point we should rid ourselves of the clutter of stress completely. The first step of de- stressing is de-cluttering your mind, soul and body of all that fills you with confusion, anxiety and depression. It is time you decide to simplify complications in your life. At first it is difficult to eliminate all the waste piled up in your life since such a long time but soon with a little effort and by following some of these tips, you will be gifted with a fresh mind and spirit and re-new and recharge yourself with positive energy and go forth in the direction you please.
10. Go outdoors
Connect with nature
Don’t just be glued to your computer table or the television set. Go for a stroll in the park, do yoga, join a gym / aerobic classes or simply travel. Being connected with nature changes your rhythm; so breathe in fresh air. Walk for at least fifteen minutes a day. Absorb the beauty around you and take in the details. Be grateful for where you are and you will find yourself inspired to face life head on. Getting physical exercise is not just good for the body but also for your soul and mental fitness. Some exercises have the same effect as anti depressant medications and beat stress. It gives you means to unwind all the clutter in your mind and gives you energy to face life with.
9. Wake up with a smile
Wake Up With A Smile
The first fifteen minutes after you wake up are crucial as they set the pace of the day and determine how productive your day will be. Don’t immediately read the newspaper as it will boggle the mind with negative impressions and image of the world. Instead talk to yourself and tell yourself that today nothing will stop you from living your life. Breathe in and out and pray if you want to. Plan how you will manage the rest of the day and mentally set the tasks for the day.
8. Meditate
Meditate
With the consistent stream of thoughts that constantly occupy your mind, you begin to accept it as the norm. With practicing a little meditation you can take control of life. Sit comfortably and relax. Forget all your duties, work and responsibilities and focus on the entity of your being. Take a deep breath in and exhale. Absorb the divine energy. Also, in a day set time aside to worry about something and decide for the rest of the day to free your mind of the constant tension. Soon, you will find your mind naturally getting rid of the clutter of everyday living.
7. Write down your thoughts in a journal
Create a journal
With all the thoughts that clutter our mind, it becomes difficult to cope up; especially if we have no one to talk to them about. A good way of bating the cycle of self reproach is to express yourself. Write down all that is bothering you on a piece of paper or your journal. Once you have read it, you can tear it up or even burn it as symbolically detaching yourself from the problem. But it is important to pen down your feelings. Not only will you take the burden off yourself, reading it will give you an objective view of the issue concerned and perhaps a solution might even occur to you. It will no longer seem like no one understands you and its magnitude will shrink in your head
Alternatively, you can pick up a pen or pencil and let your soul guide you on drawing whatever is on your mind.
6. Do what you love
Watch a movie with friends
When was the last time you did something you truly love? Often due to mental blocks, we postpone or forget to do things that give us happiness or pleasure. It can be as simple as renting your favourite DVD and inviting you friends over. What are your hidden talents? Can you sing well, dance, play an instrument, cook or sketch? Pursue your talents and find time for the little things in life. Put on your dancing shoes and move to your heart’s content to a musical genre you admire. You can even join a hobby class and maybe even learn to knit! It will help you get out of the muddle you are in.
5. Manage your relationships.
- Talk it out.
Take a look at your Facebook friend list. Is there anyone who need not be? Do away with relationships in which you feel suffocated or humil
iated. If the relationship is too dear to you, talk it out. Solid foundations are based on communication. There is enough litter in your life without having to take it from someone else. Politely, yet firmly, make your anxieties clear. If no solution is reached, consider breaking apart. As is often said, we cannot choose our relatives, thank God we can choose our friends.
4. Don’t have unrealistic expectations
Don’t have unrealistic expectations
Take a minute to evaluate the expectations you have from yourself and others. Do you try to please everyone? Pleasing everyone is an impossible task as people will still manage to find a flaw in you. As the saying goes, if everyone is pleased by you, something somewhere is wrong. So focus instead on being yourself.
Is someone at work bothering you? See what you can do and accept what you cannot change. Not everyone can measure up to your expectations.
Set your priorities right. Are you in a constant battle to devote equal time to both work and family? Know again that this is an unreal expectation and learn to balance.
3. Clean your environment
Cleanliness is next to godliness.
A clean space is a sign of a peaceful mind. Physically cleaning out your place will remove the clog webs from your mind too. Throw out what you don’t need or what reminds you of unpleasant things.
Organise your bookshelf or closet as it will also make you feel more in charge of your life. Donate books or clothes you no longer require but are in a good condition.
2. Forget the past
Forget the past
‘Don’t allow your wounds to transform you into someone you are not.’~ Paulo Coelho
You cannot move ahead in life unless you let go of past failure and heart aches. To remove the trauma of the past, see what you could have done differently; learn from it and move on forgetting it when it no longer serves you right. If you cannot laugh over a joke more than once, why cry over a sad incident again and again? Accept that you can’t change the past and live each moment to the fullest.
1. Have a goal
Set goals!
When you set a goal, irritants and hurdles in your life stop bothering you and the clutter is automatically removed. You no longer have the time or drive to be distracted by chaos that surrounds you so it automatically disappears. Goals on anything motivating you can be long term such as getting into the University of your choice or short term such as losing weight. Goals need perseverance and focus. So do your best to work towards achieving them and leave the rest on destiny
