Have you ever gone through your closets and cupboards, then let go of a box, bag, or trunk-load of items? How would you describe this feeling?
When I ask this question during workshops, certain words continually appear: Relief. Fresh. Light. Clear. While letting go isn’t always easy, the process of clearing away the excess to make space for what’s to come yields powerful results. What if you could reap similar rewards by spring-cleaning your mind?
A long cooped-up winter can leave your space feeling stuck or stagnant, a good metaphor for remaining too long in the same mental patterns and routines. Just like opening the windows and clearing the cupboards can energize your space, taking yourself on a “mental retreat” can do the same for your mind, work, and life. I regularly take mini-retreats primarily for the purpose of renewal and it works wonders. Whether you have an entire weekend or just a few hours, here are 5 ways you can conduct your own mental spring-cleaning:
1. Change Your Scenery. My most recent mini-retreat took place a whopping 20 minutes from my home, but I felt like I could have been across the globe. Get out of your usual environment – which may be feeding your “same old” thinking – and revel in the new sights, smells, and atmosphere. Incorporate nature into your experience if at all possible.
2. Conduct a Mental Purge. For me, this comes in the form of journaling. From successes to frustrations to highlights to fears, I encourage you to “vomit on paper” as author Nicole Johnson phrases it. Give yourself the freedom to journal whatever stream-of-consciousness comes out, not worrying about grammar, spelling, or even making sense. (Perfectionists currently cringing: this can actually be extremely liberating!) If meditation or some other technique serves you better, go with it.
3. Unplug. While engaging in your mental spring-cleaning, disconnect from email, social media, and other electronic distractions. The point of your experience is to reconnect with what matters most to you, which is difficult to do when you’re preoccupied with what others are doing or what they expect from you. You may decide to unplug for extended periods of time or, like one of my clients so brilliantly does, engage in a weekly or monthly “Day Of No Input.”
4. Embrace Solitude. Does spending a few hours or days by yourself thrill you – or scare you? Regardless of your lifestyle and personality preferences, everyone needs to periodically honor their “inner introvert” and take time alone for reflection and recalibration. Jeanne Ralston says it this way: “Solitude is necessary to recharge batteries in a way that sleep can’t. Sleep restores us physically; solitude restores our psyche.” (You might want to read Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s beautiful Gift From The Sea for more on the topic of solitude and self-reflection.)
5. Indulge Your Creativity. In her classic The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron stresses the importance of a regular Artist Date, which she defines as “a block of time especially set aside and committed to nurturing your creative consciousness, your inner artist.” As a high achiever, you may feel this sounds too “fluffy” and wonder who has time for that, but let me assure you, the most successful and continuously growing leaders whom I’ve coached have all seen the value in this. Visit a museum, take a stroll through the woods, view a science exhibit that gets your wheels turning. You’ll undoubtedly come away with a new idea, possibility, or way of putting together something that’s been puzzling you.
While simply taking the mini-retreat is enough in and of itself, the planner in me would be remiss not to share suggested next steps. I encourage you to wrap up your mental spring-cleaning with a brief action plan for moving forward. This could be as simple as identifying the key words you want to describe you over the coming weeks/months; a couple of changes to which you are wholeheartedly committed; and habits or actions that you’ll start, stop, and continue doing (click here for more on this).
And just like we all appreciate the fresh starts of spring – the tulips breaking through the soil, the grass turning green – your employees, family members, and others in your circle will benefit from your refreshed mind, renewed clarity, and new growth.
“Under the giving snow blossoms a daring spring.”
~ Terri Guillemets
How do you spring-clean your mind, work, and life? Share your ideas below, on our Facebook page, or via Twitter!
Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches executives and leaders who feel stuck – whether in their leadership abilities, at a certain income level, or “spinning their wheels” in the day-to-day – to flourish towards their vision with clarity, confidence, and meaningful action.
Learn more at www.meaning-and-purpose.com, on Facebook, and via Twitter.