I noticed that many people out there, their precious brain juice is constantly bombarded with information, notifications, and distractions. As a result, they felt significantly cluttered, making it challenging for them to focus, stay organised, and maintain a sense of clarity. It is time to do it right . Here, let me share with you the tricks.
The information overload is real. Well, it’s pretty overwhelming actually. It’s just too many things to read and too many things to watch. Perhaps, you may need a moment to pause and reflect on the amount of time you spend engrossed in the online world. Don’t you think you are spending too much time and waste unnecessary energy thinking, commenting or talking with others about things you can’t really control. It’s time to take back the time you’ve lost and focus on what truly matters.
Practice mindfulness. Talking about mindfulness, I prefer to spend time and put my attention on what truly matters. I want to stay away from having to think about those unnecessary ones—something that are beyond my control. Engaging in simple yet potent things, such as morning walks, reading articles and books, long drives, defensive driving and having breakfast together with loved ones serves as an anchor to bring my attention back to the present moment.
Simplify things. It starts with a skill of differentiating things in front of me whether they fall under the essential category or the non-essential. This is how I plan my things. This is also how I simplify what needs to be done. I use Google Tasks to schedule my to-do list. I’m the minimalist animal, so my environment needs to be less cluttered too so that I can think better. Even on my working desk, there’s practically nothing except my external monitor. The same goes for my digital life too. I have almost nothing except important apps on my mobile. There are simply two-and-half pages of apps in there. My go-to app for communications are WhatsApp and email, nothing else. Social media, I’m just using LinkedIn. This is how I keep my digital life simplified.
Create a productive routine. Establishing a productive routine can help declutter my brain by providing structure and reducing decision fatigue. While I don’t actually have dedicated time blocks for every single activities, my routine is divided into just 2 parts actually. Work and life. That’s all. Usually, my working duration is only 3 hours. I don’t have a specific working time for it, however each day I must allocate 3 hours to settle my professional tasks. The rest of the day, it’s all about life and play. Still, I managed to sleep at 10.30 pm every night. FYI, I need my 8 hours of beauty sleep. Do I feel productive? Heck, yes.
Work on just two tasks only per day. I know, multitasking has become ingrained in our daily routines, praised as a sign of productivity and efficiency. However, I don’t think this is true. Far from it. Having just two tasks daily to work on allows me to keep things balance. I prefer to stay in the present moment and enjoy each day as it goes by. Two tasks per day also doesn’t make me drag my feet to work on them. It encourages me to engage deeply with the task, nurturing greater creativity, problem-solving, and a higher level of attention to detail. Both tasks can be done merely in less than 3 hours. So far, so good. It works for me. That’s why I feel every day is like a working Saturday. Still, I can keep up with my long list of existing customers and grow new ones too.
Digital detox. Taking regular breaks from digital devices can be beneficial, I can vouch for that. Schedule periods of time throughout the day or week when you disconnect from technology and engage in offline activities. I usually go offline each day from 7 pm onwards. And I use this time to do something else or focus on my work using a Mac. Last year, I went off-grid for a complete 7 days without my mobile phone and devices—twice. This routine will continue this year as well. This is how I recharge and refocus.
Embrace physical exercise. Ah, this is crucial. Physical exercise goes beyond its obvious benefits for the body. Did you know that it has a profound impact on the brain as well? You see, when you engage in physical exercise, whether it’s a rigorous gym session, a peaceful yoga class, or a leisurely walk in the park, your body releases endorphins. These natural chemicals act as neurotransmitters in the brain, producing feelings of happiness and euphoria. The release of endorphins during exercise enhances your mood and creates a sense of well-being, effectively decluttering your mind from negative thoughts and emotions. I can feel all these despite the fact that I’m not even a doctor or healthy expert. Guess what, exercise can reduce stress too.
Journaling, writing and brain dumping. To me, journaling and writing articles are truly powerful techniques for decluttering the brain and gaining valuable insights into my thoughts and emotions. It just took me about an hour per day to do that. I can pour out almost all the worries, fears, and frustrations onto the articles, relieving myself of their weight. It doesn’t matter whether the article is just a 2-minute read or more, through this act of release, I’m able to create mental space for new perspectives, ideas, and solutions to emerge in a structured and storytelling manner.
Try it out. One piece of advice though. Start small, be patient, and enjoy the benefits of a clearer, more focused mind. It’s priceless.
