Do you feel overwhelmed by all of the things you need to do? Maybe you get the feeling utter chaos is swarming throughout your mind that it’s practically impossible to focus; let alone think straight.

Mental clutter is damaging to your well-being. It can lock you into a state of inertia or leave you doing a lot of stuff only to complete nothing.

Here is an exercise to eliminate the mental clutter, and focus on what is the most important to you. The process is called mind-dumping or brain dumping. It’s a simple and effective tool to get outside your own head.

Find a clear and quiet space, where you will be free from disruptions and distractions for at least 15 minutes. If you can’t find one, then make one. I have went so far to lock myself in the bathroom to do this. No joke.

During this time write out every thought that enters your mind. List out all the things that you feel you have to do; any problems that need solved, and any random thought that enters your mind. The key to this is getting all on paper and out of your head.

Now ask yourself these questions:

What are your standards? What do you value and what is the order of importance of these areas in your life?

Often times our minds get so cluttered because we haven’t set standards and defined our values. The other scenario that contributes to the chaos is our actions aren’t congruent to our values.

Keep in mind that we are all different. The only person leading your life is YOU. Write down these answers for yourself and no one else.

Once you have listed your standards and values for your life- take a look at your list. Is there anything on this list which doesn’t contribute to your standards? Cross them off. (Obviously you will need to address matters that have serious consequences, such as paying your taxes, and etc.)

List out your values in the order of importance on a separate sheet of paper. Here is an example:

1) Health
2) Home and Family
3) Business

Take the items on your mind dump list and place them on your categorized list. Are there any items that really don’t have to be done? Mark them off.

Are there any items that can be delegated or taken care of by someone else? Make a note of who you can delegate these to. Time is one resource we cannot replace so make sure to use it wisely.

Now take action on your prioritized list immediately. Focus on the completion of no more than 3 – 5 areas in one day.

Remember to list out all the things cluttering up your mind. Protect your time. Take action on what is most important to your life. You will find yourself operating with a clear head, and accomplishing many great things by your definition of success.

Try this out and let me know how it works out for you. Do you have a different process to clear out the mental clutter? I’d love to hear about it- leave a comment down below!