Ever feel like your brain is cluttered? Like there’s just too much going on in there and you can’t focus on what you need for to start, finish, or remember a specific detail? You’re not alone. Most of us do. It’s called cognitive clutter and it can take over your brain if you let it. It’s so much worse when it happens from a chronic level as opposed to an acute one. People who have chronic clutter – or CL – are people who see a lot of clutter in their lives but don’t know how to get rid of it. You might not realize just how much stuff you have hanging around in your head right now until you start looking at ways to reduce the amount that accumulates there every day. So how do we become list people again after having all those items strewn across our brains, minds, and memories?
Decide on one system for organizing everything.
The first step to getting rid of a lot of the clutter in your head is to decide on a system for organizing everything. If you’re feeling really overwhelmed, try doing this with just one category – like electronics or clothing. For example, you might want to create a list for electronics that includes all the devices, accessories, and games that you own – organizing them by brand. Once you decide on one system for organizing all items in your house or office, it can help you clean up your mental space. You’ll have a place where you can go to find out what’s missing or what you need and it’s easy to get rid of extra things because they’re not just sitting around taking up room in your head. If something’s not working, then switch back to another system until you find one that works best for you.
Pour all of your to-dos out of your mind and into your system.
The first step is to remember that your brain is a muscle. It needs exercise just like everything else in your body. You need to find ways to reduce the amount of clutter that’s there. This can be done in a number of ways, but it starts with understanding how your brain typically works and what helps it function better. It’s also important to understand why your brain becomes cluttered and how you can stop CL from happening. The root cause of CL is typically one or more of the following: stress, anxiety, exhaustion, or feeling overwhelmed. If you can identify these feelings in yourself then you know where to start when looking for ways to keep your mind clean and clear so you can focus on what matters most.
Keep your list app or book front and center.
One of the best ways to keep your CL in check is by keeping a list or journal handy. Keeping a list is easy, but it’s also important. It’s easy to have a million thoughts running through your head at once and not remember what you need to do next. Having a list or journal can help you keep track of what needs done and when it needs done. You can also use this as an opportunity to reflect on where you want your life to go and how you want it to change over time. Another thing about maintaining your list or journal is that it gives you an opportunity for self-reflection and introspection. Your list becomes a tool for learning about yourself and how you are wired from day-to-day, moment-to-moment, hour-to-hour, season-to-season, year-to-year.
Before starting a task, find it on your list.
Begin by making a list of all the tasks you need to complete today. This is your To-Do list. It doesn’t have to be long, but it should be comprehensive and specific enough to help you focus on what you’re trying to do for the day. Next, find where those tasks are on your list and then determine whether or not you can start them now. For example, if you’re trying to clean out your closet, look at the list of things that need to be done. Find the task that corresponds to cleaning out your closet and see whether or not it can be done now. If it can’t, put a star next to its corresponding item on the list and cross it off so that it’s no longer in your head. If you didn’t realize how much clutter was sitting in there until you started looking at ways rid of it, now is your chance!
When finishing a task, cross it off from your list.
One way to reduce your cognitive clutter is to create a list of tasks. Make a list of all the projects you have going on or all the things you need to do this week. Then when you’re done with one thing, cross it off your list. This can help in both getting started on a task and finishing it as well. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and want to get some things done, start with your list.