Dealing With Emotional Clutter

A person's mind can be just as cluttered as a physical space             Image:Adapted from Pixabay

The topic of clutter is frequently discussed in magazine articles and on the internet. When we hear the word ‘clutter’ we usually think of physical surplus items that have accumulated over the years. Emotional bits and pieces are another form of clutter which can weigh us down. 

 

This emotional clutter can be in the form of decisions you haven’t made or tasks you keep putting off. This type of clutter holds you back as much as physical clutter and can drain your energy making you feel tired and overwhelmed.

There are times when you know you aren’t in the right frame of mind to make certain important decisions and it is wise to leave them for a while. After a time you may find yourself able to deal with them. Sometimes these decisions are left for a long time because you continue to find you can’t face sorting them out. Every time you think about them you feel it is all just too hard.

You may need some support. Perhaps you could talk to a friend or family member, depending on what the decision is. You may find there are underlying issues which need to be dealt with first and perhaps you need the help of a professional such as a psychologist or counsellor. Your doctor should be able to provide you with some options and a referral. You may qualify for free or subsidised consultations depending on your circumstances.

You may well find once you have sorted out your major decision it is easier to deal with lesser issues that have accumulated in the ‘too hard basket’. A couple of years back I had an important decision that I had been putting off for a long time. I felt weighed down and unable to deal with it. Eventually I talked to a relative about it instead of continuing to try facing it on my own. Then I was able to make some phone calls and sort things out.

Once I had dealt with the major decision I was amazed at the number of smaller unfinished things I had the energy to sort out in the following weeks. 

 

Emotional clutter needs to be sorted as much as physical clutter does. Dealing with clutter that has been holding you back will result in an increase in your energy level.