Basic Mind

Declutter Your Environment

According to an article published in the Journal of Neuroscience, if your environment – whether it be your home or office – is cluttered, the chaos constantly competes for your attention and restricts your ability to mentally focus and process information. Whether you realize it or not, having clutter in your surroundings occupies a part of your mind and blocks your ability to think and act clearly. If you want to improve your mental state, you need to organize and clear out physical clutter. Here are eight tips to help you get started.

The Vedic Perspective

The Vedic science of environmental harmony, Vastu Shastra, identifies how clutter creates stress in an environment. Vastu, or “yoga for the home,” comes from the same wisdom texts as Ayurveda, meditation, Jyotish, and yoga.

Steps to Eliminate Clutter

It’s time to eliminate what is old, unnecessary, or doesn’t reflect who you are any longer. This system for clearing clutter will help you create better energy flow and help you feel more productive and less stressed.

1. Begin with something small, like a drawer.

2. Consider how much time it might take to complete the task and set a timer. Having a finite amount of time for the task will help you stay focused.

3. Take everything out of the drawer and then create three plies:

• The first pile is to give away
• The second pile is to throw away
• The last pile is to keep

4. Make sure you keep only what you want or need. Otherwise, place the item in one of the other two piles.

5. Placing your kept items back in the drawer in an organized and easy-to-identify way is as important as deciding to keep them.

6. After finishing this short project, take a moment and check how you feel inside. Put your hand on your heart and take several deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth to settle the mind. Taking the time to check in with yourself allows you to experience the subtle energetic effect of clearing clutter.

• Ask yourself: Do I feel lighter, calmer? Do I feel more energetic? Do I feel inspired to continue?

7. If the answer is “yes” to any of these questions, consider moving on to the next drawer and eventually to bigger tasks like shelves, cabinets, and closets. At this point, you may be ready to organize large projects: the garage, your basement, or a storage room.

8. Keeping clutter under control is just as important as clearing it. Make sure you have a place for everything. Remember: mess causes stress.

Clearing clutter is something everyone has to deal with. From a Vedic perspective, once it’s removed, it will free up the energy in your home or office creating an environment where you can thrive. Eliminating clutter simplifies your life and opens the space physically and emotionally for new possibilities to enter.