How I De-Clutter My Mind - By Leisha Farrell - 31 Mar, 2010
I spend a lot of time online and occasionally find myself overloaded and overstimulated by the abundance of information out there. I become flooded and can't prioritize my thoughts. When I try to come up with a new blog idea or something to create in Illustrator and I can't seem to narrow my focus. Do you experience this on occasion? Here are my top five activities that I use to clear my mind:
1. Half an hour on Wii Fit Plus. I'll play a few mini-games, like the snowball fight and some rhythm boxing before setting up a short yoga routine. It's not a hardcore workout, so I don't have to change into gym clothes or shower afterwards, but the physical and mental stimulation helps me dump the random information that has accumulated while surfing, er researching, on the internet. This activity also serves another purpose - it gets my butt off the office chair and energizes me.
2. Initiate a play session with my cats. Just like people, cats need some mental and physical stimulation to combat boredom and keep their skills sharp. I'll rub some fresh catnip on a stuffed rat and toss it around the room for the cats to chase and pounce upon. If you have a dog, take him outside for a few rounds of fetch, or a game of tug-o-war. Even smaller pets, like rabbits, rats, guinea pigs, ferrets, birds and active reptiles can benefit from the one-on-one attention. When you focus on your pet's pleasure and needs instead of your own, it is easy to let go of some of that excess information that is plaguing your mind.
3. Start a craft activity. I personally like origami. Since I have to focus on the folding instructions in order to make a perfect paper animal, I can't really be thinking about all the stuff I just read online. Other ideas are scrapbooking, watercolor painting, sculpting with clay, making beaded jewelry, etc. Lacking the materials for a craft activity? Mix together 1 cup of flour and 1/4 cup of salt, then add 1/4 cup of water - use your hands to really mix it well. Now you have some biodegradeable playing dough - see what you can sculpt with it.
4. Play an open-ended low stress video game. My personal favorite is Animal Crossing: City Folk for the Wii. It's a virtual life game that takes place in real time. If I need to clear my mind, I can go "fishing" or water the flowers in my virtual town. I don't have to worry about getting attacked by enemies or solving puzzles because this game is so simplistic. I can just sit back on the couch and let my mind unwind as I wander around town. The scenery changes from day to night, with different fish available during different hours, so it feels more realistic.
5. Bake something sweet. Following a recipe requires a little bit of focus, which will help me let go of all the "virtual information" spinning around in my head. Plus, there is a reward at the end of this activity - sweet warm goodies straight from the oven!
There are actually tons of activities that can help you ditch unwanted information, but different activities have different effects on everyone. I find that taking a walk doesn't help me clear my mind - it actually stimulates it further... but I'm sure it works for some people. What are your favorite activities to de-clutter your mind?
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