Sarah Guirguis When we think of spring cleaning, we think of wardrobe minimalism or decluttering some room decor, but have you ever considered the notion of ‘spring cleaning your mind’? We all probably need it more than we know. Here are a few ways you can go about it.
Get in the habit of sleeping well
If you sleep well, you are guaranteed to have a more relaxed mind the next day. Every time you choose to invest in your sleep, know that you are directly investing in the quality of your upcoming day. In contrast, you know how things get when you’ve only napped for a few hours… Headaches become inevitable, and your concentration, along with your ability to process throughout the day, is very much affected. The end goal here is to be more present and attentive with the people around you.
Aim to have an hour or so to yourself in the morning
While this sounds like a luxury that busy people can’t afford, you wouldn’t imagine how much your soul actually needs this. Having a smooth, calm start to your day will allow you to mentally prepare for anything that may come your way. Since you feel well rested, you have this sense of inner stability, and we get it – some days come with a full schedule and you simply have nothing to do about it. In that case, remember to switch off during five-minute breaks in the middle of your day. You need to be mindful of your mental capacity and what you need to recharge, which sometimes looks like taking a few minutes to breathe and just sit there, doing absolutely nothing.
Wipe out your schedule when you need to
If you need room to breathe, as in some time away from friends and family to get your head on straight and tune in with your heart, do it. Cancel all your plans and head for that weekend getaway. Stay in that one night you know you don’t actually want to go out. It’s not a myth that connecting with yourself helps you later to connect better and more deeply with others. It comes down to this question – Would you rather be swept up in everyone else’s flow or have your own voice in the crowd? We know it’s the latter so remember it.
Learn how to process
Processing thoughts and emotions sounds like a basic skill everyone should have, but sometimes we get so busy that we become distracted with the motions and forget to do it. For some people, processing looks like catching some sunlight for half an hour, for others, it’s journaling, and others, being in nature, painting or listening to soulful music. Whichever way you find that you’re able to relax and connect with your inner world, make sure to do it frequently.
