A commentary by Erika Gileo, Chief Operating Officer, EXIT Realty Corp. International
Spring is a time of hope and joy; a time that brings warmth and marks new beginnings in the natural world in which we find ourselves so intertwined. With the arrival of spring comes an awakening from winter, with the promise of new growth and change.
It’s the time to dust off those cobwebs and declutter; whether in your garden, home, work space or your mind. When you rake the garden, it allows last year’s seeds to emerge, grow and thrive. The same is true of clearing out work environments and living spaces. Our minds are more focused in organized surroundings, and this process allows us to keep what’s treasured, pass on what can be paid forward, and let go of that which no longer serves us in order to make room for what’s to come.
When thought patterns are clear and tended to regularly, they help us break through procrastination and forge ahead confidently with decisions. Mental spring cleaning will allow creative thoughts the opportunity to take root and blossom.
What’s the best way to declutter your mind? Here are a few suggestions:
- Affirm: Stop worrying about what might happen and focus on what you want to happen. Sign up for the Prompter!™ app to help you get started or continue on your path of affirmation.
- Make Lists: This frees up valuable space in your mind and allows you to prioritize tasks so that you get more accomplished. You could try apps that aid in the organization of projects like Asana or Airtable.
- Make Time for You: Unplug, eliminate noise and allow yourself a few moments each day to decompress, breathe and to quiet your mind. Centering yourself in a calm environment renews and re-energizes you to help tackle the many daily challenges we all face.
- Say NO: In this busy world we’re pulled in a million different directions. Avoid becoming overwhelmed and say no occasionally just because you need the time for yourself. Every square in your daily calendar does NOT have to be filled.
- Be Grateful and Giving: Living life with a grateful and giving heart provides balance to life. The late Zig Ziglar said, “The greatest source of happiness is the ability to be grateful at all times͘.”
Take a few moments every day to give thanks for that which you are grateful. This can be done by keeping a gratitude journal, a joy jar, or just by taking a few minutes at the end of each day to recap everything for which you are thankful. This also helps to set the mood for a peaceful night’s rest.
