A Different Kind of Decluttering

You know the drawer. You might even have a whole closet, a whole room, or a whole garage full of things. You know your flathead screwdriver is in there somewhere, but when you search, it takes an eternity to dig through all of the stuff to find it. Sometimes it’s so frustrating that it’s easier to go out and buy a new screwdriver. You fix the loose screw, you throw the new screwdriver back in the mess confident you’ll remember where you placed it, and the cycle repeats next month when the screw comes loose again.

We are all familiar with this sense of clutter (If you aren’t, I applaud you. Please teach me your ways!). But perhaps there is another, arguably more impactful, type of clutter. In the same way that physical clutter exists, I would propose mental clutter is equally present, and often much more difficult to realize.

The Clutter of Information

So, what exactly do I mean by mental clutter?

We live in a culture where it has never been easier to access information. This information isn’t inherently good or evil, it simply exists. On one hand, information can be used to find a substitute for butter, the phone number for the closest locksmith, or illuminate other parts of the world that would otherwise be invisible. On the other, this information can also be used as a distraction. It can make up problems that don’t actually exist and convince people they need fixing. It can create more questions than it does provide answers.

This second side of the coin is a large part of mental clutter. This type of information, more often than not, presents itself to us instead of us seeking it out. It is frequently designed to be addicting. To keep you consuming more and more. It offers little value. There is no getting around the fact that this content we consume takes up mental real estate. If we aren’t careful, our minds can become like an overgrown garden, covered in such a thick layer of weeds that we can no longer see the flowers.

When we are not intentional about the type and volume of content we consume, there are powerfully tangible consequences. Focus becomes more difficult, and the mind is often distracted. The way we view ourselves, and others, is affected. We’re more prone to anxiety. All of a sudden, there are so many things we “need” that we didn’t even know existed. Silence becomes uncomfortable and we lose the ability to sit with our own thoughts. Our opinions are no longer our own but reflections of the ones we have heard from others.

Please don’t take this as me saying all of social media, YouTube, and television is a waste and you should never engage with it. I like a suspenseful show or a video that makes me laugh just as much as the next person. These consequences I bring up are results of overconsumption, and the important distinctions are intentionality and volume. Are you consuming for a purpose, or are you consuming to fill space or because you can’t think of anything better to do? How much are you consuming and are you leaving space for your own thoughts, for reflection, for creativity? Are you prioritizing the things that are important to you, or is the amount you consume hindering you from those priorities?

What’s the Value?

My temptation every time I consume a piece of content I enjoy is to say “that was really interesting”, and move on without taking any time to do anything with it. I fail to translate it into meaningful application, and I start consuming something else. As much as I convince myself I am getting value out of everything interesting or useful I consume, the value becomes null when I don’t take time to digest and apply it.

A friend of mine recently used the term “informational constipation”, and the more I think on it, the more I find it incredibly appropriate. We so often consume until we can’t consume anymore and get backed up because we haven’t digested. I don’t need to get into the details of what being backed up does to your body, as I’m sure you are all familiar, but it’s not fun. We hoard all this information, and it has nowhere to go. Ideas blend together

Take 10 Minutes

Here’s a simple test to give you an indicator of how much mental clutter is in your head. Set a timer for 10 minutes. Find a comfortable place to sit (don’t lie down, this will prevent sleepiness from taking over). Put away all distractions -this includes technology, music, and anything that will remind you of things you need to do. Go. Just sit. What type of thoughts are coming to mind? Do you feel at peace or frantic? How badly do you want to reach for a source of distraction? All these will illuminate what is inside your head. Creating space for meditative silence, where only your own thoughts exist, can be uncomfortable, but it is such a valuable practice. There are countless benefits of meditation shown by research, but I’ll leave that to you to go learn more if you so desire.

I do not pretend to take moral high ground in this situation. These reflections come from finding my own self consuming content in the same way I often reach for any snack I can find in the pantry. I just want to snack because I’m bored, I don’t even take the time to consider if I’m hungry first.

Sitting down for 10 minutes can be hard for me. But I have found that the more frequently I do it, the easier it becomes. I’m more aware of my own thoughts and am able to better make intentional decisions about how I want to spend my time. I have more space to play with ideas and be creative. I feel more peace. I’m more present when I’m with people.

Encouragements

If you’ve ever seen shows like Marie Kondo or the Home Edit, you know the power of clearing out the items that no longer have a purpose and having a clear system of organization. It’s truly mesmerizing to watch a pantry go from causing stress and promoting unhealthy eating habits to providing peace knowing every item has a home and being structured in a way to promote healthy eating. I want that same sense of peace, clarity, and health for my own thoughts as well as yours.

My encouragement in this is to take time to digest and declutter. If you need a place to start, here are some questions to reflect on. I hope you find value from them, and that they lead to application instead of only information acquisition. If you have any of your own tools or approaches that you’ve found helpful, I’d love to hear them.

• How does the content I am consuming compare to the content I want to consume, both in type and volume?
• How much of the content I consume is intentional?
• What is the last piece of content I remember, and applied?