How to unclutter and clear your mind
Like everything great and genial, this post also was born in a shower, while I was trying to get rid of sleepiness and prepare for the upcoming workday.
Thinking about what I should do first when getting to work, I suddenly realized that I don’t really recall the actual ongoing projects there.
Well, I know what I’m working right now, okay? But I didn’t had the overview, what were the next tasks for the website launch — were there any tests still left? Were the texts and content uploaded? Are they written at all?
What about the designer’s work, do I have the latest mock-ups with the changed logos and everything?
And that was when it hit me — I am thinking about lot of things beside my daily work. I have hobbies, I got problems, I read too much RSS/news/blogs, I spend time getting new information — but this everything is actually cluttering my mind. It disturbs the main “thinking ability”, which actually has to be taken by the stuff what I do at work. All in all, this is what I’m paid for — and, to be honest, I really do like my job. I am the guy who found what he likes and it has become his daily work.
So, how to get rid of the mind-cluttering information, useless activities and get a clear mind and overview of the actual work, i.e. what really matters?
First, I decided to count all the things which are distracting me. The list is huge and dangerous:
- Personal life, family, relationships — there are some issues which take lot of your time and thoughts
- Mortgage, currency exchange rate — the economic situation in general
- Friends, missing out — e.g. not being able meet many of them, not being able to attend concerts, events etc.
- Constant craving for additional information — TED videos, clever blogs about “How to excel at something”
- Facebook. Terrible, time killing machine!
Yeah, everyone has issues like that. Count yours and see, if you can solve or get rid from some of them.
Second — solve the issues.
Easier to say than to do. Let’s start from the bottom:
#5: Just block this Facebook and all other networks already! There are tons of apps like StayFocusd for Chrome etc. Block them forever, do not allow yourself to have even 30 minutes a day. You can always check notifications on your smartphone (when you turn on the data of course, because most of the time the smartphone must be disconnected from the internet as well).
#4: Get rid of Feedly, RSS, news subscriptions, log out of all accounts and delete passwords which are saved in your browser. Delete bookmarks — you will get rid of the silly habit of checking all of them during the day. Only the important ones will stay in your mind — which you can see then in the evening, at home.
#3: Plan your week in advance in the way that Friday or Saturday evening will be dedicated to friends, relatives or whomever you want to see. Plan in advance with them. Say, if you have a college pals, or ex-colleagues from previous jobs — call them during the week and agree on a meetup over a beer or coffee. If it doesn’t work with the one gang, try it with another one. So you will have 4 reunion meetings during a month (if you’re good at it, you can have even 8 meetings). Also, find out who of your friends work close to your location and have an occasional lunch with them — once a week.
#2: Don’t ask me how to solve mortgage, where in addition the inflation and exchange rate of the currency hits your incomes, increases payments and drives you so mad, you get depressed. There is only one way out — increase your income. By any means — start savings, get additional side projects, find better income. Anything is good — and remember, do not give in to depression.
#1: Family and relationships is what has to be in place, ordered — otherwise, everything will fail. You have to be happy with what you got, you have to love your significant other, respect and support must be mutual. There are tensions always, when two persons live together, even more if they have kids and everyone needs attention and time to spend with. But the key is — to be happy in the relationship. Not to feel any guilt, or not to be only the one with responsibilities — you have to find the balance.
Third — be in harmony with yourself. Essential part for me here is to feel light and easy. Stay fit, exercise, take long walks, go swimming, run — whatever works for you. Eat healthy, drink less, learn to say no. Some of us need to loose weight, some — get in shape. All of these will help us to feel healthier and happier, what will lead us to a clearer mind. The trick is that I have started thinking during exercises, I was running not only on a treadmill, but also my thoughts were running and getting to the goal.
There’s another way of getting to a clear mind — but I don’t have it right now, must’ve lost it somewhere between getting out of shower and getting dressed for the work.
