Economic indicators such as human development index and consumption levels point that across the globe, recession notwithstanding, people are earning considerably more than they did a decade ago leading to improved living standards. Relentless medical research and development has also led to improved life-expectancy and lower mortality rates in most nations, if one was to follow year-wise WHO Statistics on the same.
However, at the same time a disturbing trend has emerged. A large percentage of young people, as early as in their 20s are seeking treatment for chronic depression, stress and anxiety and are at an increased risk of developing diabetes, hypertension, high blood pressure and stroke. According to a WHO estimate, 450 million people globally suffer from mental disorders in both developed and developing countries. Depression is ranked as the leading cause of disability worldwide and affects around 120 million people worldwide.
A large part of this populace can be observed seeking help from spiritual Gurus and exploring the Himalayas in search of happiness and tranquility.
Too Much Clutter in our Lives?
The incessant pressure to cope up with the daily juggling of work, family, commute and the ubiquitous quest to climb the social ladder has taken a heavy toll on many. For the more resilient lot too, the continual balancing act has left its mark in the form of edginess and discontentment with life.
A bit of introspection and analysis may reveal to us that there exists way too much clutter in our lives which manifests itself into anger, frustration and mental fatigue at different points of time. The clutter spreads from our thoughts and our mind to our actions, our work, our social life and the environment.
Thus, just like we spring clean our houses to remove the clutter and the dirt; our lives need a detox and rejuvenation session every once in a while to effectively de-clutter and blossom!
Steps to De-clutter your Life for Everlasting Happiness
1. De-clutter your mind
2. De-clutter your social life
3. De-clutter your work space
4. De-clutter your house
5. Out of clutter, find simplicity
6. Bring the zing back for everlasting happiness
De-clutter your Mind
How many times have you chided yourself for having wasted time in chat, tweets and games when you could have completed an assignment in that time? It is almost fashionable these days to have at 5 to 6 windows open at the same time on the computer or netbook or an equal number of Apps open on the phone. But you do have one pair of eyes and a single processor called the brain.
It is smarter to prioritize work, focus on one activity at a time for greater efficiency. Clarity of thought is also very important and can be improved by relaxation techniques, meditation and ‘alone’ time.
De-clutter your social life
Disengage from social commitments which you do not enjoy and find neither enriching nor fulfilling. Idle chats and stray relationships may actually add to the clutter in your life and you might feel exhausted following them up. Social networking is cool till the time it does not freeze your brain and confound your life! The mantra therefore is to stay connected but not to obsess over staying connected.
De-clutter your work space Your workspace is the place where you spend most of your waking hours every day. This is the place which demands maximum productivity and efficiency from you. Keep it neat and organized; make use of the various drawers and closets provided and shred whatever you don’t need.
De-clutter your house
Nobody likes returning to a house which is unkempt. Make it a habit to de-clutter regularly by disposing, recycling and donating. Keep toys and books out of the living room, mop up the mess in the kitchen and keep plants for a fresh look.
'Out of clutter, find simplicity'
Remember the time when you did not have fancy gadgets to engage you in the commute home. You would strike up conversations with strangers or observe people or just use up the time to reflect, gather your thoughts or even catch a few winks of sleep. Those were also the times when a long car drive was endearing just for the sake of it and earthly activities such as the morning walk or walking the dog were not punctuated by other distractions. Meal times then held sanctity as precious family time.
So un-complicate your life in order to de-clutter it. To do that lower your expectations from spouse, children, parents and friends as it is our high expectations from people around us that often leads to disappointment and heart-burn. Find solace in the daily blessings of life and family. To quote world renowned scientist and philosopher, Albert Einstein, ‘Out of clutter, find simplicity, from discard, find harmony, in the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”
Bring the Zing back in life for everlasting happiness!
Finally, bring the zing back in life to de-clutter it and achieve everlasting happiness. Living life fully to experience the simple pleasures helps de-clutter your life and as cliché as it may sound also presents a window to see the good in everything. Whining about the past and unduly worrying about the future makes us oblivious to the pleasure of ‘now’. Live in the moment and absorb what it offers you to effectively de-clutter.
Be generous with your smile as it adds value to your personality, likability and leads to good health. Give yourself a ‘thumbs up’ and engage in some pep talk every now and then as many of u are in thankless jobs and need the morale boosting. Look out for opportunities to unwind, relax and rejuvenate. Indulge your senses, extract some ‘me’ time or spend more time with family. Do whatever it takes to make you happy and enthusiastic about living life.
De-cluttering life is not a single step change. It requires progressive changes to be made to the existing mindset and lifestyle. A De-cluttered life if achieved in this fashion can lead us to the path of everlasting happiness. So the mantra is that if you love your life, you will take effective steps to de-clutter it.
Read on how a De-cluttered mind can motivate us to achieve a De-cluttered life and how a Clutter-free house can contribute to a De-cluttered Life.
Sources:
1.WHO Estimates- Startling Statistics about Mental Illness ( www.myasha.org/node/12)
2.WHO Statistics and Data- www.who.int/research/en/
3.WHO Growth Observatory Tables on Mortality- http://apps.who.int/ghodata/?vid=720
Puja Chandra - Hi, I am Puja Chandra Nanda. I would like to introduce myself as a creative and prolific writer totally and absolutely in love with the ...
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