Move Repetitive Decisions to Autopilot to Declutter Your Mind

Steve Jobs is the more well-known co-founder of Apple. He created the world's first one trillion dollar and two trillion dollar company along with Steve Wozniak. Apple became the first company with a market capitalization of three trillion dollars in January 2022. 

 

The meteoric rise of Apple in the computer and consumer electronics industries in the early 1990s had a lot to do with Jobs' leadership. One thing the tech icon did that impacted his management was frequently wear the same outfit. Perform an image search for "Steve Jobs," and you continually see him wearing the same three things.

• A black mock turtleneck top

• New Balance sneakers

• Blue jeans

One of the wealthiest men in the world, Jobs could certainly have afforded an endless amount of clothing. Yet he continually wore the same things. Why did he do that?

 

It gave him one fewer choice to make every day.

 

This allowed him to free his mind up for other things. He put what would otherwise have been a daily decision on autopilot. He didn't have to spend any mental energy worrying about what he would wear.

 

How many images of Albert Einstein have you seen that look the same? He reportedly purchased several versions of the same suit so he didn't have to waste any of his considerable brainpower on his choice of clothing each day.

 

In an interview on the NBC Today show, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said he owns about 20 identical gray-colored T-shirts. Former US President Obama also believes in limiting the number of routine choices he has to make daily.

 

In a 2012 interview with Vanity Fair, President Obama said, "You'll see I wear only gray or blue suits. I'm trying to pare down decisions. I don't want to make decisions about what I'm eating or wearing. Because I have too many other decisions to make."

 

If it's good enough for these successful people, should you try it? Perhaps you should if you want to declutter your mind.

 

Limit Repetitive Choices

 

Maybe you don't want to wear the same clothing all the time. That's fine. All we're saying is that when you limit the number of conscious decisions you have to make, there's less going on in your conscious mind. That means fewer things that can collect in your head and lead to clutter.

 

Move simple decisions to autopilot. This could be what you will wear to work, what you eat each morning, or a specific schedule of activities you will follow at some time during the day. The less mental energy you spend on decision-making, the freer your conscious mind is when you engage in important activities.

 

This is a simple way to reduce the amount of input that goes into your mind. When you reduce how much you ask your conscious mind to do, you limit the possibility that mental clutter will build up and keep you from performing at your best.

The Twice-a-Day Ritual That De-Clutters Your Mind, Helps You Sleep Better, Relieves Stress, and Boosts Mental Focus

Scott Bea is a clinical psychologist who understands how clutter can wreck your mental and physical health. He tells us that visual clutter, anything that falls within your line of sight but isn't necessary, cranks up your production of cortisol. That means more stress and anxiety.

 

Clutter negatively affects your self-esteem level, even if you don't consciously believe it's that big of a problem. Mental and physical clutter kills your ability to focus and be productive and can lead to sleep loss.

 

Physical clutter in your environment can lead to mental clutter. 

 

Your senses are constantly trying to deal with everything they detect in your messy, disorganized space. This fogs up your brain and gets it working overtime. When you remove visual, physical, and mental clutter from your life, you gain better control of not only your mental abilities. You also boost your self-esteem and feel good about what you've accomplished.

 

The Downside of a Cluttered Mind

 

Before we discuss how you can do some spring cleaning in your mind, let's get a little negative. Sometimes understanding the downside of a situation can motivate you to take action. Here are a few of the unfortunate symptoms of a cluttered mind.

 

• You constantly focus on the negative and have difficulty seeing things positively.

• You worry about things you have no control over.

• It isn't easy focusing your attention and having clarity of thought.

• You are easily and frequently distracted.

• Your brain never shuts down and is always processing information from multiple topics and lists.

• A cluttered mind can lead to multiple sleep problems.

• It's common to feel physically drained, mentally confused, and unproductive.

 

When your mind is cluttered with unnecessary "stuff," a lot of energy is required to deal with it. This can make you feel run down and fatigued. You don't feel like doing anything or dealing with anything.

 

Don't worry; there is a simple solution you can use twice a day to sleep better and relieve the stress your mental clutter is causing. You will find it easier to focus, and you'll be more productive as well. Here's what you need to do.

• Write it down when you wake up.

• Write it down when you go to bed.

What is the "it" that you should be writing down? Your thoughts. Your feelings. Anything that's going on in your head. In the morning, write out a game plan for the day. Prioritize important things and keep everything else off of your list.

 

At night, read over what you wrote that morning. Then unload your mind. Back up the mental dump truck and get it all out. If random thoughts bother you during the day and are still on your mind, let them stand up and be recognized.

 

Writing out your thoughts is such a powerful way to clear your mind. When you do this regularly in the morning and at night, you'll find you sleep better, and you're more productive during the day. This won't stop your ceaseless inner chatter. It gives you control over it while ensuring a lot of mental clutter doesn't take up full-time residency in your mind.

7 Things to Remember When You Feel Overwhelmed

Feelings of overwhelm can threaten your happiness and your relationships. When you take on more than you can handle, your body reacts with elevated stress levels. Often it results in you being short with other people. You may also forget to eat as you focus on getting your list done. Eventually, you may develop other mental health issues if you keep putting yourself through the same paces without any break.  

7 Things to Keep in Mind When You Feel Overwhelmed

At times, everyone gets overwhelmed, but that doesn’t mean you are a lost cause. Here are seven things to remember when you start feeling overwhelmed: 

• Your emotions are natural: Feelings of overwhelm are often a sign from your body that it is time to slow down and scale back. You can also control your feelings, so addressing this feeling and replacing it with better ones is possible.

• It isn’t the end of the world: This is part of life. The good news is that you can stop the feelings of overwhelm by recognizing it for what it is and taking proactive steps to prevent the cycle from happening.

• Now is a good time for a brain dump: Overwhelm leaves our minds cluttered. By writing down all of the things, you need to do or feel, you are alleviating some of the mental energy you have had to expend keeping it all in.

• Take action instead of wallowing in your thoughts: Action breeds more movement and will propel you out of your feelings of overwhelm. Additionally, new opportunities will crop up to help you chip away at your project.

• Avoiding digital stimulation is the better choice: Getting lost in social media will only leave you feeling worse when you realize you lost time to work. Notifications can leave you in a constant state of panic. Remember that it is okay to turn off notifications for periods of time and focus on what you need to get done.

• Stepping outside is a good thing: You do not have to be tied to your desk and laser-focused on what needs doing. Give your body the break it deserves to help you reset and recharge.

• You have been here before: More than likely, you have felt this way before. It won’t last, and you can shorten the timeframe by being proactive.

Feelings of overwhelm don’t have to stop you from being productive. Remember that this happens to us all, and you can take action to overcome it.

 

How to Deal with Constantly Feeling Overwhelmed

Do you get tense just thinking about all of the responsibilities you have? If so, you probably deal with feelings of fear, frustration, anxiety, and maybe even anger. Once in a while, you may deal with these feelings, but when it is each day for weeks or months on end, it is time to learn how to deal with them. 

6 Suggestions to Deal with the Constant Feeling of Overwhelm

Don’t let yourself get caught up in the struggles that come with an overstuffed plate. Instead, take these steps to help you deal with those constant feelings of overwhelm: 

• Try to Find the Primary Cause: Think about what is going on in your life or career. Ask yourself what is causing you to feel stressed and overwhelmed? Do you have an enormous project weighing you down? Is there something that can be delegated? If you can hand off the task, do so. If it is a large project, break it down into manageable steps. 

• Breathe Deeply: Feelings of overwhelm will leave you tense, and you may be breathing in shallow bursts. Slowing down to breathe from your diaphragm will help you lower your stress response. It will help you reassess what needs to be done.

• Establish Boundaries: You need to expect that you will disappoint people, but you will want to learn to tell people ‘no’ for your well-being. Do what you need to ensure your feelings of overwhelm do not overtake you. You may determine that you will not answer any email between the 9 and 10 AM hours so that you can focus on project work.

• Ask for Help: Sometimes, fighting overwhelm needs more than better calendar management. The listening ear of a friend or understanding HR personnel may be what you need to get through the day. They can help put things back into perspective.

• Keep a Journal: Journaling has many benefits. One of which is to help you clear your mind so you can process thoughts. Expressing yourself freely on paper will bring you much relief.

• Put Perfectionism in Its Place: We use perfectionism as an excuse to make some projects appear bigger than they are. It also encourages procrastination which means things pile up, and then you are overwhelmed at the mess. Instead, use your boundaries to determine if you really need to take on a particular project or if someone else can do it.

Fight back against overwhelm when you step back, assess the situation, take a deep breath, and ask for help.

6 Steps You Can Take to Stop Feeling Overwhelmed

It’s 2 PM, and you are frustrated because you have accomplished nothing. Your list is still as long as your arm and more have been piled on your plate. Your heart starts racing while you get more agitated at your circumstances. 

Then it hits – the feelings of overwhelm threaten to drown you. It’s possible to reign in those feelings of overwhelm and kick them to the curb. If you let these feelings get out of control, your body will reap the negative consequences, including poor eating and sleeping habits.

How to Stop Feeling Overwhelmed

Are you ready to stop the feelings of overwhelm that threaten to overtake you? Put these six steps into practice: 

• Determine What Is Triggering the Feeling of Overwhelm: What started these feelings? For example, were you late to work because you overslept after staying up too late watching movies or working on a project? Take note and write it down if you need to.

• Reframe Your Feelings: You will probably be full of negative thoughts and emotions. Instead of giving in to anger or hopelessness, replace it with empowerment and determination to tackle what is before you.

• Sit Up Straight: As you feel overwhelmed, you may respond physically by hunching forward and taking shallow breaths. Take a moment to straighten up and take several deep belly breaths. The change will reinforce to your brain that you are switching emotions. 

• Decide on One Small Step You Can Take Right Now: Look over your list, and decide on a tiny thing you can do at that moment, and do it. Once it is accomplished, pat yourself on the back and choose another task. With each one, you slowly tackle those items that have been weighing you down. Also, you reinforce to yourself that you can get things done.

• Get Over What You Can’t Control: Focusing on things you cannot control is a waste of time, energy, and emotions. If you can do something about a situation, then take action. However, if you cannot, why not relax and let worry slip away.

• Guard Your Calendar: A significant culprit to being overwhelmed is not protecting your time. It is okay to say no and leave some white space on your calendar. It is up to you to ensure keep your calendar free from being overbooked.

You can beat the feelings of overwhelm by being proactive and getting your emotions under control. Once you do, you will be empowered to knock out that To-Do list and protect your time.

The Art of Delegation: How to Free Up Your Time and Get More Done

Most internet searches for “delegation” result in articles designated for managers and employers. While this skill, of course, has its benefits in a business context, delegation is a useful tool for freeing up time in any area of life. Today, we’ll look at delegation in a general context so you can effectively use it at work, home, hobby clubs, spiritual organizations, and anywhere else you may find it useful.

Benefits of Delegation

 

It can be hard for some people to let go and accept help for numerous reasons. However, you’ll find that delegation of tasks has benefits that far outweigh the undesired feelings that may come at first. Some of these benefits include:

• Saving time

• Building your own and others’ skillsets

• Preparing others to handle tasks independently in the future

• Increasing motivation

• Improving relationships

Tips for Successful Delegation

 

Successful delegation requires finesse and good communication. To delegate tasks properly, consider the following tips:

• Communicate your overall goals clearly.

• Allow for team member feedback.

• Play on individual strengths.

• Establish a clear channel for subsequent communication.

• Be patient and accept that mistakes will be made.

• Monitor progress and make changes as needed.

Communicating Effectively

Delegation can come across as authoritarian or laziness if not used properly. The first thing to keep in mind is your tone of voice and the words you use. Present the reason for delegation in a neutral tone and explain it in terms of how it provides mutual benefits to everyone. For example, instead of saying “We all live here. We’re each going to do our fair share.,” say “We can all be happier if everyone pitches in on chores.”

 

Second, clarity in delegation is essential. If you don’t clearly define the tasks, there is a good chance that things will be missed or completed improperly, causing even more work in the end. For example, instead of just saying “You’re in charge of the equipment.,” you should make a list of what equipment is needed and instructions for how to prepare it.

Using Strengths

Determining each other’s strengths requires input from at least two people; the individual and the person delegating the task. It’s always important to ask a person about their strengths. They may have skills and training you were unaware of. In addition, you’ll also want to take your own observations into account. Based on what you come up with together, you can mutually determine which task would be best suited for their skills and needs.

Utilizing Feedback and Shortcomings

When you first delegate tasks, it’s important to listen to the concerns of the people you’re delegating to. Remember that just because something doesn’t seem important to you, it doesn’t mean it’s not important to someone else. Take this opportunity to address fears, offer advice, and work together on a game plan for success.

 

You should also determine a process for monitoring progress. For instance, you could schedule routine meetings to discuss what’s working and what isn’t. Create an atmosphere that encourages open communication and supports one another through the learning curves. In some cases, you could also use certain outcomes to monitor progress, such as sales, time spent, etc.

When to Use Delegation

Delegation isn’t necessary in every task. If the task is simple and there’s no harm in completing it yourself, then there’s no need to force delegation just for the sake of doing it. However, there are some factors to consider when deciding if you should delegate a task, including:

• Personal stress caused by taking on the task yourself

• Preparing others to take your place

• Opportunity for skill development

• Equality in time and effort

• Current abilities of yourself and others

• Benefits to others

References

 

https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/how-to-delegate-effectively

 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/eliamdur/2022/11/08/delegating-part-ii-seven-benefits-of-delegating/?sh=29118d377d55

 

https://www.linkedin.com/advice/0/how-do-you-communicate-clear-specific-instructions

 

Finding Balance Between Your Personal and Professional Life

In today’s fast-paced society, many feel that all they do is work without time left for family, friends, and leisure activities. While we are grateful that we have jobs, struggling to keep up with heavy workloads, other career challenges, and personal lives can be overwhelming. 

 

We tend to get so caught up in the rush that we forget to care for ourselves. As our stress increases, various physical and mental health issues, such as decreased immunity, poor concentration, irritability, depression, high blood pressure, and more, can occur.

 

Work-life balance is one of the most important considerations for your quality of life. The path to well-being is finding the balance between work and personal life. The following are several strategies to help reduce stress and achieve the desired balance. 

 

• Practice Self-Care: Boost your ability to cope with daily stressors by eating healthy foods, staying active, and getting sufficient sleep. Research shows a healthy lifestyle benefits physical and mental health, such as reduced stress and depression and a more robust immune system.

• You Deserve a Break: Take small breaks throughout the day to clear your mind and restore energy, whether at work or in your personal life.

• Create a Daily To-Do List: A practical approach to finding balance in your life is to have a plan or to-do list for each day. This helps you to be organized and control your personal and work tasks. 

Create your task list the night before to give yourself a roadmap for the upcoming day. Keep your work tasks and personal tasks separate to help foster a distinction between the two. Be sure to keep your lists realistic and don’t include unimportant tasks. Otherwise, you’ll race throughout the day trying to get everything done, causing more stress and disbalance.

 

• Practice Time Management: As you execute your daily to-do list, you’ll likely encounter interruptions and other activities that take focus away from achieving your goals. The following are several time management techniques that will help you be in control of your limited time. 

• Don’t Multitask: When you work on multiple tasks at the same time, you may end up wasting valuable time. Multitasking makes focusing on a single task challenging since your focus is split among several tasks.

• Control Interruptions: Prevent distractions by silencing your phone and checking emails only 1 – 2 times daily. Carve out 1 – 2 hours daily where you have no interruptions. Let those who need to know that this is your boundary and why.

• Communicate: When you feel that the demands and volume of work are too overwhelming, talk calmly and professionally with your employer. Your employer must be aware of your concerns to address them. If you have thoughts on a solution, share them.

Conclusion

OnePoll surveyed 2,000 employed Americans to find their reasons for quitting their jobs. The result is that 55% left their careers to find a better work/life balance. 

 

We understand that ongoing work/life stress can impact our well-being physically and mentally. Aside from finding a different career opportunity, there are positive steps that we can take to improve the work/life balance. 

 

Living a healthy lifestyle is essential to improve coping abilities and decrease stress. Taking short breaks throughout the day helps us to refresh and clear our minds. 

 

Creating a daily plan for work and personal tasks and time management allows us to take control of achieving our goals. Communication with colleagues and leadership is key, as well as taking control by reducing interruptions and eliminating multitasking. 

 

Regularly practicing the preceding strategies can lead to good habits that will help you find a balance between your personal and professional life. 

References:

 

https://www.sleepfoundation.org/physical-health/diet-exercise-sleep

https://www.onepoll.us/portfolio/wisetail-the-great-resignation/

 

5 Ways to Reinvent Yourself When You’re Stuck in Life

If you’re like most people, you may have done more in your career and life than you ever dreamed of doing. Your life changes when you do such things and will continue to change as long as you keep your mind open to reinventing yourself.

 

Change is an amazing thing for humans! You must keep pushing yourself. Don’t sit back and revel in what you have accomplished, and then be the same person you were when you were younger. You must continue to grow and evolve in order to have a life that is interesting and dynamic. 

 

Here are 5 ways that you can reinvent yourself when you are stuck in a rut in your life.

 

1. Redirecting Your Life

 

This redirection can be perceived as a setting of goals or visualization. As you ponder the difficulties you have overcome in the past year, you can begin moving forward and looking at the new, bright year ahead. Start each year with positivity and hopefulness. 

 

Be sure to write down your goals, so they will be more easily visualized and seen in real time. After you write down your goals, break them into mini goals. Those are easier to track one day at a time. Redirecting yourself through setting goals will help you to achieve them, albeit not immediately. 

 

2. Making a Bucket List

 

When you’re stuck in a rut in your life, take some time and imagine what your work and personal life could look like. Ask yourself questions and write the answers down. Writing the answers down is a simple act that brings forth forward momentum and clarity, making it easier to fulfill your aspirations and your purpose in life. Take the time to imagine your life as it can be and follow the directions to take you to that life. 

 

3. Starting Small Makes Big Changes Achievable

 

Starting small is the best way to make big changes in your life. The smaller changes make it easier for you to stick with your changes in the long run. If you’re trying to accomplish too much at once, the changes may not be sustained, and you’ll feel overwhelmed. Remember:

 

• Drastic life shifts are always intimidating.

• Starting small makes them less scary.

• Take one small step at a time.

 

Something as small as starting your morning routine 30 minutes earlier can be one simple step. That way, your body will become accustomed to changes you make. 

 

4. Cultivating Presence

 

It may seem that you’re told you need to do more, rather than being more. If you follow that order, you may begin to function just on autopilot. Switch off that autopilot by using mindfulness techniques. This will be helpful in rerouting your thinking. You will not worry about the past or the future as much, so you can become rooted in the present. 

 

You can also take a step back to make your decisions from a calm, clear place, rather than making them amid chaos and being always busy. 

 

5. Identifying Areas of Your Life You Want to Change

 

Reinventing yourself can be accomplished in part by identifying the areas of your life that you’d like to change. Explore just what you want to change. You may often view transformations as “before and after” or “black and white.” 

 

However, changing even small areas of your daily life may have a wonderful ripple effect. Holistically assess your life and look at each area, before identifying those you want to change. 

 

Conclusion

 

It only takes one skill, one bit of information or one thought to begin reinventing yourself when you’re stuck in life. The power is always within you. It just needs to be unlocked. Once you have unlocked the power using the steps above, you’ll see endless possibilities for your future. Start creating and living the life you most desire. 

 

References

 

https://carenmerrick.com/how-to-reinvent-yourself-regardless-of-age-or-circumstance/

 

https://thecreativeindependent.com/guides/how-to-reinvent-yourself/

 

https://psychcentral.com/blog/feeling-stuck-in-life-tips-to-move-forward#when-to-seek-help