Not only is spring the time of year associated with new beginnings, it is also the time of year we associate with the phrase “spring cleaning”.
Dusting, vacuuming and washing parts of the house that have been neglected throughout the year, maybe what you automatically think of when you hear this phrase. Some of you will be reminded of all the unused and unwanted items you need to dispose of.
How many of you will also think about clearing the clutter in your mind?
A cluttered mind is one swirling with thoughts about people, relationships, jobs, etc.; often that are no longer adding value to your life and consistently cause you to experience negative emotions. In the same way unwanted physical items take up unnecessary space in your home, mental clutter uses valuable resources and takes up essential thinking space.
If you’re unhappy in your job or career, it can be difficult not to allow it to consume your thoughts. Work is where you spend most of your time and if you are unhappy at work, it can feel like you are never away from it. Even if you are not at the office, your feelings about your job never leave you.
Clean and organise
Cleaning and organising a physical space can sometimes help you to restore some sense of mental balance and calm, as well as distract your mind from dwelling on negative thoughts and feelings.
When I am feeling stressed or overwhelmed, my default thing to do is to clear and organise my wardrobe. I normally empty it completely, getting rid of clothes I no longer like, that no longer fit or something that I put back last time telling myself I’ll definitely wear this somewhere.
Organising my wardrobe always manages to make me feel less stressed and normally helps me to gain clarity on situations or decisions I am finding a challenge.
Get clear
Clarity is like a great beam of light in a dark room or bright sunshine on a grey, dull day. When faced with life’s challenges, such as whether or not to leave a job or to pursue a career change, it is easy to become stressed and overwhelmed.
You know that you are desperate for something to change, but maybe you have no idea what that change could be. Alternatively, maybe you know exactly what you want to change but you have no idea how to make it happen.
“More important than the quest for certainty is the quest for clarity.”
Francois Gautier
Uncertainty is something that we as humans do not cope well with. I believe that if we did, our lives would be much more bearable and probably a lot more enjoyable. Many of us however struggle with the uncertainty of life and in particular with the various choices, opinions, opportunities and pressures we are faced with daily.
Take Action
Although giving your home, or part of your home a spring clean can relieve some of the anxiety and overwhelm you may be experiencing, often it is not enough and you still need to take time out to really look at what is bothering you.
So as well as scheduling some time to “spring clean” your house, allocate time to reflect on areas of your life where you are feeling unhappy or overwhelmed.
Here are 3 steps you can take to de-clutter your mind and regain clarity about your life:
- Pick one area that you are finding challenging or that is making you feel unhappy, stressed or anxious. (It could be your career, your finances or even a relationship.)
- Make a list of all the things you could do to start improving the situation or at least how you are feeling about it
- Commit to doing one thing on the list and monitor the impact it has – if it makes absolutely no difference after 30 days, return to your list and pick something else to try. Continuing to do something that makes absolutely zero difference makes no sense. Be careful however to ensure you notice the difference between zero difference and a very small difference
Author Bio:
I’m Leanne Lindsey, a career coach and founder of LL Coaching Ltd www.llcoaching.co.uk. I work predominantly with professional women who are feeling dissatisfied and unfulfilled in their career. Women, who are still ambitious and want to be successful, however no longer enjoy their day job and would love to do something more meaningful.
It is my aim to reignite your passion and enthusiasm whilst inspiring and motivating you to create a career and life you love.