Declutter Your Mind
Written by Ayanna Sealey
Studies have shown that clutter has a negative impact on mental health, including an increase in depression, confusion and tension, as well as a decrease in focus.
De-cluttering, then, could help to counteract and alleviate some of the negative effects of inertia, by clearing our space and by proxy, our minds.
Shifting from the experience of being in the midst of the pandemic, to life being pretty much “back to normal”, has revealed both positive and negative repercussions of this unprecedented time. The overarching theme of waning mental health has been a topic that has become more normalized, and we now feel more empowered to share our lived experiences. Finding solutions to counteract these feelings has become a matter of increasing urgency, and with that comes the knowledge that we are stronger and more resilient than we ever could have imagined. As the saying goes, “necessity is the mother of invention” and we most certainly were forced to face our trials head-on at this time. Thankfully, there ARE solutions to easing the effects of the pandemic, and more importantly, we have become more open to embracing and implementing them.
One of the repercussions of the pandemic is the feeling of inertia, which is “a tendency to do nothing or remain unchanged”. More specifically, the pandemic has produced a specific type of inertia that results from years of staying indoors, a lack of social contact and different degrees of loss (death, marriages, jobs, or the pre-pandemic version of ourselves). It makes sense that the effects of inertia would have been heightened at this time, and could have had a debilitating effect on our mental health. After all, there is only so much baking, watching Netflix and Zoom family chats that we can do, without eventually pulling our hair out.
With the return to normalcy, there is the realization that life may never actually be the same as it once was. Achieving some semblance of past functioning requires ACTION, yet herein lies the conundrum. The pandemic’s particular brand of inertia causes a lack of movement, beyond the norm. Many have described taking much longer when “getting ready” to carry out a simple task, such as going for a walk (one of the things that could help to kickstart some momentum). That’s correct, the mere thought of having to get ready to get into action is too much to bear, and can often result in not doing it at all. The truth is, there is no magic pill that can counteract inertia - the only solution is action. It is in the getting up and doing something where momentum is kickstarted, which can feel like drudgery on the best of days.
Add to that, inertia could result in neglecting important tasks, such as the removal of clutter in the home. Studies have shown that clutter has a negative impact on mental health, including an increase in depression, confusion and tension, as well as a decrease in focus. De-cluttering, then, could help to counteract and alleviate some of the negative effects of inertia, by clearing our space and by proxy, our minds. Re-commerce apps such as “Resuit” can help with this immensely, by encouraging us to clean out our closets, with the intention of selling or renting clothing, and even scoring some new pieces, if we’re lucky!
It is essential that our well-being is tended to consistently. Along with de-cluttering, simple solutions such as the aforementioned taking a walk, beginning a mindfulness meditation practice, carving out time to stretch or do a short workout, listening to music, reading a good book or having a hot bath, can work wonders to reset our minds, and help to shift momentum throughout the day in a positive direction. We certainly do have within us the capacity to shift our mindset, as well as our functioning. It just takes a little bit of effort to get that ball rolling.
About the Author Ayanna Sealey | Ayanna incorporates her unique experience as a Broadway-caliber performer and Master’s in performance psychology to help artists, high-level executives, and athletes, realize their potential and achieve peak performance. Having danced for over 35 years - training at the Alvin Ailey School in New York City and performing as a ‘triple-threat’ dancer, actor, and singer in Toronto (Disney’s The Lion King and the Stratford Shakespearean Festival) – Ayanna imparts her personal experience becoming a world-renowned performer, despite an on-going battle with Lymphedema, to help others actualize their own potential. Through her acclaimed Neuro Emotional Technique (NET), Ayanna helps clients identify and release subconscious blocks that are preventing them from achieving their dream goals and desires. She has worked closely with athletes and artists - such as Ontario Basketball, Barbados National Field Hockey Team and Randolph College for the Performing Arts - helping them to achieve their peak levels of performance. After coaching throughout Los Angeles, New York, London, Zurich, Geneva, Ireland and Mexico, Ayanna launched Magic Makers, Inc. in 2020, a 1:1 group program designed to help leaders rebuild confidence, regain power, and unlock their full potential. Today, Ayanna is a mental performance guest expert on television and remains the mental performance coach behind high-performing executives, performers and athletes, including Vocalize U, LA’s longest-running artist development music program. She currently resides in Toronto, Canada with her husband Mark Jeffers.