Clearing the Social Media Clutter was Like Cleaning a Physical Space
I enjoyed the actual act of cleaning out my social media accounts as much as Marie Kondo seems to love folding up socks. I used her process of completely clearing out a space and being intentional with what is added back. This helped me to take control of an area of my life that was cluttering not just my online space but my mind as well. I’ve been working to fill this newly found space with stillness, and even enjoyment, of new and everyday tasks. Here are just some of the tasks I enjoy more once I opened up this space to be mindful.
Chores Over Scrolls
My husband may argue with me to no end, but I genuinely love the feeling that accompanies many chores. I just can’t say the same after any time spent scrolling through a newsfeed.
I enjoy the sense of accomplishment that comes with putting away laundry. The alone time when I’m washing the dishes might be the only time I’m left alone. Throwing away a broken toy makes me feel oddly accomplished. Filling up a donation box is the ultimate cleansing breath. De-cluttering helps me be mindful while the time I’d spend “relaxing” online usually just left me feeling stuck.
A Hatred for Running Became a Joy
A friend told me her favorite part of the day is her run. I thought she was crazy. I thought, why would someone want to run…for a long time.
Fast forward to “Covid-times” with 3 boys under 6. My need to grab a glass of wine at 5:00 p.m. sharp inspired me find a new stress-reliever. The Forrest Gump inside of me awakened and “I just felt like running.” I downloaded Google Play, turned the sound louder than is recommended, and ran as fast as the beat of the music. A couple great jams at high volume and mindfulness in and stress-be-gone. I was hooked! Running became that space where I could just be mindful. There wasn’t possibly anything else I could think of than the next step to take.
I would’ve never found this hobby had I not pushed myself to be intentional with how I spend my precious time. The old me thought scrolling through a social media newsfeed was de-stressing. Only after realizing it was the stress was I motivated to replace with it something so seemingly terrible.
A Higher Quality Workout
It was fun sometimes to come up with posts showcasing workouts and “healthy living.” I really tried to make it work. But keeping up with the persona that I’m this “bad-ass mom of three who can do it all” was the extra exhaustion I didn’t need. Sure, I am a hardworking mom who finds relief in working out, but truth be absolutely told, I workout for much more selfish reasons.
Rewarding myself with a glass of wine after a jog around the neighborhood is a system all my own. Achieving toned arms after being born with “Polish arms” is so empowering. Feeling sore is an achievement. I like that I have control over making certain muscles look sweet when I have so little control over my separated abs or “arm boobs.” Then there’s the stress relief.
Though writing and Dawson’s Creek, help me manage my stress, working out became the major reason I stayed sane. It is the ultimate way to practice mindfulness. I couldn’t focus on anything else. The harder I worked the better I felt. It became a sense of accomplishment that made up for all the things I felt I couldn’t accomplish in a single day due to the current circumstances. Plus, not to toot our own horn, but the workouts our gym programs are the perfect combination of tough and fun.
Focusing on those reasons led me to be more mindful in my workouts and to ultimately get more out of them. Doing it for me is what finally got me putting in 110% in every workout and being active every day. Sometimes removing a little distraction is all you need to get there.
Fill in the Blank: ______________ Clutters My Mind
We seem to focus so much on de-cluttering our physical space. What could be more important than our mental space?