Clear the Mental Clutter

BY DIANNA BOOHER

Would you like to make an attitude adjustment with high payoff - a clearer mind, and reduced stress? W11ether you're overwhelmed by unfocused mental activity have become sidetracked by emotional concerns, or simply want to improve your intellectual performance, you can learn to think, work, and feel better.

Plan Worry Time

When you catch your mind wandering into worry, postpone the thoughts until later. Schedule yourself a time to think about that worry; jot it down if you must.
Sort your worries into those that are real and those that may never happen. For those that may never happen, promise to worry about them only when and if they happen. For real worries, outline steps to prevent the situation, correct the problem, or minimize the impact. Then, take action toward a resolution.

Resolve Ongoing Conflict with Others When we find ourselves in conflict with another person, we have four choices. The issue is deciding on the most expedient choice for any particular situation:

On occasion, any of these actions or reactions may be appropriate.  Choose the best action or reaction. Then let go of the situation.

Refuse to Over-Commit Yourself  If you're tempted to take on more than you can realistically handle, ask yourself these two questions:
"Does this activity fit my goals and values?" "Why am I being asked to do this task-because no one else has the expertise, or because no one else will say 'yes'?" If you don't like the answers to these questions, pass up the "opportunity."

If you have difficulty saying "no" when someone seems to have a real need and a good cause, think of the "no" in a positive way: Focus the conversation on what you have decided to commit to rather than on what you have decided not to commit to.

Concentrate; Don't Invite Interruptions You may be unintentionally inviting interruptions that break your concentration. Do you have "toys" and gadgets on your desk that people feel compelled to touch as they pass? Do you keep several projects within sight on your desk so that you're tempted to go from one to the other randomly? Do you stop to take calls while you're trying to do creative work? You cannot do two things at once as well as concentrating on one task until it's complete.

Create a Mental Oasis for Creative Thinking/Work Albert Einstein once said that "Imagination is more important than knowledge." However, you cannot write the Great American Movie, your annual "accomplishment" report, or a $10 million client proposal without thinking space. For your creative projects, find a non-routine environment.

Go to a cabin in the mountains or rent a hotel room. Even closer, less exotic places will! do - your backyard patio, the conference room down the hall, a friend's office, or the library.

Move from Left-Brain to Right-Brain Activities Left-brain activities include tasks such as fact gathering, reading technical information, and writing a repot.  Right brained activities include creating visuals to use in a presentation, giving constructive feedback to a boss or planning a marketing strategy to win over a prospective client.

Striking a balance between both kinds of activities can produce the most creative results and satisfying emotion, not to mention increased energy and motivation.

When the mental clutter spinning around in your head prevents you from working or thinking effectively, remember these tips. Ridding yourself of emotional, irrational, and even legitimate distractions will help you bypass mental roadblocks to achieve maximum productivity.

Copyright 2002.Dianna Booher, CS~ CPAE, Booher Consultants, Inc. Author of 42 books (Simon & Schuster/Pocket, Warne);and McGraw Hill). She delivers keynotes, breakout sessions, and training on communication and life-balance issues. For more information on Dianna and her programs, visit www.diannabooher.com or contact her firm, Booher Consultants, Inc., at 800-342-6621.