How to declutter your mind

The human brain is essentially a supercomputer, with around a billion neurons forming a trillion connections. Those are some remarkable numbers but unfortunately, unlike a computer, our memory doesn't have a search option (Elon should really look into this). What this means is that our mind is essentially like that one drawer in our house where we dump all our belongings and then can't find them when we need it the most. In other words, our minds are too cluttered most of the time. Worry not though, there are many steps you can take to address that. Here are a few ways you can declutter your mind/memory.

Getting more sleep

Less sleep has a direct correlation with what they call brain fog, which is essentially our mind's inability to process information and remember them properly. There is actually scientific evidence to back this up. A lack of sleep hampers the ability of our brain cells to communicate with each other, which causes memory lapses. So, if you want a clear mind, better skip those late-night Netflix binge sessions.

Meditating

Meditation makes our minds more disciplined by enhancing our abilities to filter out unnecessary information. Given our workload and the number of media we consume on a daily basis, it is very easy for the mind to lose sight of what's really important. Meditating resets the mind and gives us the chance to set our priorities straight.

Writing your thoughts down

Transferring your thoughts on a piece of paper or on your phone's "notes" app is a great way to declutter our memories. Think of it as using an external hard drive to free up some space. Not only does it take some much-needed load off our minds, but we also get the luxury of revisiting our thoughts when needed. In essence, we get to compartmentalise everything. Journaling is another great option. Maintaining a journal means you consistently jot down thoughts, feelings, ideas, etc. meaning you will always have more headspace to work with.

Avoid multitasking

I know multitasking is a way of life but human beings are not meant to be multitaskers. Various studies have shown that multitasking only gives us an illusion of efficiency but on the contrary, it actually decreases productivity because it fills our minds with too many thoughts and way too much information. This, in return, has an adverse effect on our abilities to focus. So, instead, try to sort out one task at a time.

Decluttering your surroundings

If your surroundings are cluttered, the chaos will automatically interfere with your attention and hamper the ability of your mind to focus and process information. Be it your homes or your offices, having a clutter keeps you engaged subliminally, thereby decreasing our ability to think and act straight. So, if you want to declutter what's inside, you might want to start with decluttering what's outside first.

Mastering the art of being decisive

A huge portion of our mind's clutter consists of delayed decisions and pending tasks. Life can be broken down to a series of choices and it is very easy to let these choices get piled up. Practicing being decisive will keep this pile at a manageable level. Sure, this in no way mitigates the emotional implications of certain life choices but it makes it easier to get through pending tasks and helps us manage time better. This also takes a lot of power away from procrastination and the hold it has on our life by nullifying delays.