If you’re like most people, you will have a fair bit on your mind. Whether it’s worrying about work, your personal life, relationships or finances, it can all feel a bit much sometimes. So, is it time you cleared out some of the old to make way for some fresh, positive thinking about your life ahead? Here are three ways you can de-clutter your mind and get back to feeling happy and relaxed.
Sort out a problem relationship
One of the things in life that can have a big impact on how we feel and behave is the relationships with have with others around us, including partner, friends, and family. Having people around is important, but when things start to go sour, you need to act fast.
If you’re having problems with your partner or spouse, then the worst thing you can probably do is carry on like there is nothing wrong. It will often just make things even worse. You need to identify where the areas of disagreement lay and bring them out in the open for an adult discussion.
Depending on the circumstances, you may find that one of you has misunderstood something or got something out of context. Fixing it quickly can stop it escalating into a threat to the future of your relationship. If you find you have deeper problems between you then, again, it’s important to discuss them openly with each other. You may also want to call in the services of an independent relationship counselor to help you through.
Speaking openly and honestly also goes for your wider family and friends. Don’t lose contact with them over some minor spat that you could have put right, but wouldn’t because of pride issues, for example. Sometimes it’s best to consign things to the past and move on. That doesn’t mean you should get walked over, but it does mean that you should have an element of forgiving and forgetting in your approach to life.
By clearing up issues and making important decisions about your relationships, you will help yourself become more settled in your mind.
Get your finances sorted
One of the things that may be hanging heavy on your mind is money. Do you have financial worries? Not enough money coming in to cover all the bills? If you find yourself facing recurring problems each month, then the stress can be immense.
The worst thing you can do when you have money issues is to try and hide under a rock and pretend that you will be ok. If, for example, you have lenders chasing you for payments, you should be talking to them openly about the issues that you are facing. They have a responsibility to listen to you and to help identify a path forward that is affordable for you while also fulfilling your contractual commitments.
You may not be in debt, but maybe you find you’repaying out lots of payments to different lenders and contracts each month. Have a look at your outgoings and see if there’s a way that you can consolidate and reduce your overall monthly costs. Doing so will help make things more sustainable in the long-run. You could also check out personal loans offered by companies like Bonsai Finance.
If you haven’t already got a monthly budget planner in place, then maybe now is the time to get one together. You can do it on your laptop or even through an app. You need to add all your regular income sources and all your regular outgoings. You then need to factor in any one-off expenses that you’re anticipating and have a contingency if things suddenly become more expensive one month for whatever reason. Having a budget in front of you will help you monitor where you stand all the way through your spending, keeping in line with what you can and can’t afford.
Be happy in your work
Another way to de-clutter your mind is to have a long, hard look at your working life. Are you enjoying your job right now? Are you using your skills? Are you fairly paid for your hours? And what about the place of work itself, is there a good environment with your co-workers?
Not being happy in your job can have a huge impact on how you’re feeling about life. Why? Well, if you’re working full-time, that it will be taking up a huge chunk of your life and there’s nothing worse than being miserable for all those hours every week!
You need to pinpoint what is that’s making you feel down about your work. Do you feel like you’re wasting your talent? Is the work dull and boring? Do you feel like there’s a lack of a challenge and a lack of promotion opportunities?
Once you’ve pinpointed what it is, then you need to set about putting it right. It may mean that you need to call a meeting with your manager or human resources representative, to have a chat about your current role and whether it can be adapted or changed. You can discuss your future prospects in more detail. It’s not a bad thing to show that you’re keen to try out new things, fresh challenges; employers should welcome that enthusiasm.
If your work worries are more related to your co-workers, then again, you should be working out a way to address the issues before they get out of control or you say something that you might regret. The best strategy is always to try to address any issues on a one-on-one level. If you didn’t agree with the way a colleague spoke to you, for example, then calmly explain that to them, and be constructive in what you say.
If you find that this approach doesn’t work, or your colleague reacts badly, then maybe it’s time you spoke to your manager about the relationship issues you’re having. The last thing you want to do is have a row with your co-worker and let things spiral out of control. You could ultimately lose your job if things go bad.
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