It’s time to declutter.
Years ago, I worked as an organizational consultant, helping executives order and simplify their workspaces and routines. Still committed to living an organized life, I maintain a ritual of going through closets and drawers, rely heavily on my Notes apps, and meticulously store online documents in “labeled folders.” Ask me where an item is, and I’ll locate it in no time. (Yes, I am a bit neurotic when it comes to organization.)
But declutter now … during the Holiday season? I’m sure you have better things to do than sift through your belongings this last week of December. Most people prefer to attack this task in the beginning of the New Year, when houseguests are gone, the tree is down, and decorations are away.
What if there was more to decluttering than meets the eye?
The decluttering I’m proposing goes beyond logically ordered pantries and systematically filed papers. In fact, this proposal could be the most challenging decluttering project you’ve ever attempted.
What if we tackled the clutter behind our eyes … the unnecessary debris that fills our mind?
If you’re like me, your brain’s been functioning overtime these past few months—running one-hundred miles per hour trying to make sense of worldwide chaos, manage day-to-day tasks, and check off Christmas “to do’s.” As exciting as this season can be, it can also be exhausting, especially if we ignore the clutter that’s accumulated in our heads.
Would it be possible to pause amidst the bustle and consider letting go of unnecessary swirling thoughts? Could you allow your mind to unravel, if just for a moment?
“There’s no time for that!” you say.
I suppose what I’m suggesting sounds absurd, like asking you to meditate in the middle of your busiest day, take a long walk the morning a big project’s due, or go to a restorative yoga class instead of fitting in last-minute holiday errands. This request is unreasonable, inefficient, impractical. Or is it?
What if you said, “Yes”?
While my life may seem tidy and organized on the outside, my mind is anything but. Since I’ve been a little girl, I’ve been prone to mentally wandering, drifting to another place. Despite my best efforts to remain in the present, my thoughts can lure me away to play, ponder, propose. Perhaps that’s why I write … it’s easy to access my imagination and consider various angles to situations.
Still, it’s this same active mind that keeps me awake at night, exploring possibilities, wondering “what if’s,” and digging deep within, searching for life’s greater meanings. While this is all fun and good, too many of these nights is a sure sign it’s time to declutter, release the looping thoughts, and restore peace inside my head.
How do you declutter the mind?
For me, the best way to release a mind full of clutter is to do a “Brain Drain.” I learned this technique from David Allen, author of Getting Things Done. Here is how it works …
Grab a pen and a stack of post it notes (or index cards) and find a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed. Once you’re settled, it’s time to start draining … to access all the “to do’s” and thoughts stored in your head. This goes beyond simple tasks … it’s also the big ideas, the dreams, the aspirations—everything stirring in your brain.
Allow your mind to “drain,” writing down each thought on a separate piece of paper. Yes, this seems wasteful, but it doesn’t work if you make a long list. There needs to be one task/idea/aspiration per slip of paper. Trust me.
When you brain is finally empty—this could take some time—the sorting can begin.
Sorting?
It's time to create categories. When I first did this, I used file folders. However, I’ve shifted to storing the “brain drain” on my phone. That way, I can access the information no matter where I’m at. So, it’s up to you whether you do it the old fashion way or electronically.
Here is what you’ll need …
One folder/Note for each day of the month (numbered 1-31)
One folder/Note for each month (labeled)
One folder/Note for each of the upcoming years (2026, 2027, and 2028)
And my favorite—a folder/Note, titled “Do Immediately” for tasks that take less than three minutes to complete.
Now what?
One paper at a time, decide which folder the task/idea/thought best belongs. For example, if a slip of paper says, “send tax information to the accountant,” place it in the February or March folder. Don’t overthink it … trust your instinct as to the best spot for each idea.
Once everything’s sorted, it’s time to dig in and complete what’s in the “Do Immediately” folder. This may require some time, but you’ll find immediate satisfaction as soon as you complete these nagging tasks that have been weighing on your mind.
Will this work in the long run?
It certainly can! I suggest you create a daily reminder or set a timer on your phone to prompt you to check that day’s folder/Note. Before long, it will become automatic. Then at the end of each month, review the following month’s folder/Note and transfer everything to the daily folders/Notes.
Of course, you may have a better system than this. The actual method isn’t that important. What matters is that you’re consistent and check your daily tasks. And don’t forget to repeat the “brain drain” whenever you notice you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed. In fact, I just completed one this afternoon.
There’s a peace that comes when your thoughts are safely recorded and stored in a system where they won’t be forgotten. In essence, you’re creating a compartmentalized process where everything that’s been occupying your mind now has a home outside of your head. You know you’re going to “get it all done” so you don’t need to keep thinking about it!
But there’s more!
When our brains quiet, we become free to listen to our hearts. That’s when our true voice—our intuition—best communicates. As we move from our heads to our heart, we release “shoulds” and instead nourish our soul, creating strength and fortitude within. As a result, our vibration rises. And not only does that help us, but it also benefits everyone in our vicinity!
Releasing all that weighs us down does not make these thoughts and responsibilities vanish. But it does ensure we’ll be reminded to do what is necessary at the appropriate time. More importantly, this process opens space in our minds for the good stuff— curiosity, solutions, and presence—what’s difficult to access when our head’s overwhelmed.
This week, try draining your brain … and experience the joy of a new type of decluttering!
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