Mindful Spring Cleaning – How To Reduce Stress And Anxiety By Decluttering Your Mind
- Mar 21, 2023
- 3 min read
Written by: Denise Belisle, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
As we welcome the arrival of spring, we often find ourselves diving into the annual ritual of spring cleaning our homes and detoxifying our bodies. But what about our minds? Our thoughts and emotions can become cluttered, just like our living spaces, and it's essential to take the time to declutter our minds. In this article, we explore a simple 3-step system to help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression by eliminating unwanted thoughts and patterns. Plus, we offer a resource to assist you in this process so you can enjoy the benefits of a clear and organized mind.
As the sun begins to shine and spring arrives, we can't help but notice the smudges on the windows, the dirt on the patio, or the dust on the furniture. We grab our cleaning supplies and begin the annual ritual of spring cleaning. Some of us also turn our attention to our summer clothes and realize they feel tight after the winter. At the point, we may start a 3-week detox program to eliminate toxins and excess weight. But why do we find so much satisfaction in having a clean house or detoxifying our bodies?
We all like structure, and our brain is no exception. Our thoughts, patterns, and behaviors can clutter our brains, just like the dirt on the patio or the toxins in our bodies. Yet, we often overlook the importance of cleaning our brains. It can be tempting to surrender to our emotions, but it's essential to carve out space to declutter our minds.
Here is a simple 3-step system that can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression by eliminating unwanted thoughts and patterns.
Step 1: Write down what bothers you
Imagine your brain as a cluttered garage filled with everything you have accumulated over the years. To clean it, you take everything out and put it on the lawn. Write down everything that comes to your mind that bothers you. Create awareness of the thoughts, patterns, and behaviors that hold you back. You might even want to write down a few people's names who contribute to your stress.
Step 2: Create a list of things to add to your life
Just like organizing your garage, you need to add shelves, hooks, bins, and other organizational tools to store your belongings neatly arranged. Similarly, list all the people or things you would like to add to your life. What are your goals and dreams? What would your ideal life look like? Write everything down.
Step 3: Bring in the things you like and be grateful
Like in the garage example, you start to bring back the things you like and be grateful for them. However, you also decide not to bring back some things into your life, such as old arguments, resentment, bitterness, or sadness. Break down your goals into small action steps will move you toward where you want to be. Remember to stay positive during the whole process.
No single solution exists for removing stressors and toxic thoughts from your life. The first step is to begin a quest to find all contributing factors that cause stress. These factors might have been with you for several years without your knowledge. Be gentle with yourself, take one step at a time, and enjoy the process of decluttering your mind.
I have written a pocketbook named "Spring Cleaning for Your Brain" that can assist you in this process.
Follow this link to download it today.
The best way to get a hold of me is simply through my email.
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Denise Belisle, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Denise Belisle is the founder of Denise Belisle In-Motion Coaching. She is a serenity expert and positive intelligence specialist. She is an international speaker, online TV show host, functional medicine health coach, and Reiki master. Over the last 40 years, Denise has been immersed in all areas of health and wellness. She has been practicing mindfulness and meditation since she was a teenager and has developed great skills in the discipline of emotional and mental fitness. She works with professionals in their 50s and up who feel like they are on the hamster wheel of the new normal, empowering them to bring back the SPARK ✨ so they can rock the second half of their lives and shift from crisis to oasis.
