Is it time to empty your mental inbox?

By Brian Maynor

 

When you open your email do you cringe at the number of new, old, flagged and unread messages waiting for you?

I’m one of those anal-retentive people who can’t stand a cluttered inbox.  That means I check my email several times a day, mainly any time I receive a notification, replying as soon as possible, sorting them into folders if I feel they are worth saving, or sending them to trash if not because a clean inbox is a happy inbox.  Everyone is different, but that’s what works for me to feel productive and organized.

Now, what if there was a way we could clean up our thoughts like we do our inbox?  Fortunately, there is, and it’s easy.

Here is everything you need to know to effectively move, organize and delete all those pesky thoughts, ideas and worries clogging your mental inbox:

1.   What you need.  To empty your mental inbox, you’ll need a pen and paper or your preferred notepad program on your phone, computer or tablet.

2.    What to do first.  Start writing.  Write down everything that is filling your brain.  The key here is to get out everything that is occupying space and time in your thoughts.  Everything you should do, need to do, have thought about doing, should think about doing it doesn’t matter.  Write down everything that bothers you, distracts you and bugs you along with things that scare you.  They can be personal, professional, new or old.  Also, don’t worry about imposing an order to your thoughts.  It’s okay that they are random.  This exercise is just about getting everything out of your head and written down.

3.    What to do next.  Once you feel like there is space back in your brain, grab a new piece of paper or open a new document and start grouping the thoughts you’ve written down.  There is no set structure for this; it really depends on what you need at the time you’re doing the exercise, but most of the common categories are urgent tasks, important but not urgent, deal with later, and just let go.  If you need help with establishing your categories, it helps to start with the different areas of your life like personal, work, home, friends, etc.

4.    Then walk away.  By this point you’ll have spent some time in your brain, so it’s important to take a break and let yourself think of something completely different.  This works best when you do something physical and actually get away from the physical list or your computer.  But keep a notepad and pen handy because inevitably new things will pop into your mind and it’s important to get them out as well.  This could be your ‘get to later’ list.

5.    Start tackling your list.  When you go back to the lists, start by highlighting everything you can get done that day, and then knock them out.  You may be surprised at how much of your lists gets done and that you no longer have to think about.  For things you can’t tackle that day, create time and space in your life to deal with them by blocking out time on your calendar right then and there.  This serves two great purposes.  First by removing the ambiguity of when to begin, you are able focus on achieving results, and second you will no longer feel overwhelmed at dealing with everything all at once.  You only have to deal with what’s in that specific block of time.

6.    How to tell it’s time to empty your mental inbox.  We all have the tendency to procrastinate and let unpleasant tasks build up, but there are a few key times that seem to be common triggers for this exercise.  They include:  when it’s time to pay bills or deal with finances in general, when our schedules are overbooked or we have a lot of impending deadlines; when we are preparing for a trip; when the house is a wreck; after an argument and emotions are running high, or on Sunday nights as we gear up for the week ahead.  Anytime you start feeling anxious, lethargic, or find yourself procrastinating more than you act is a great time to empty your mental inbox.

The great thing about this exercise is that it can be as simple or as intricate as we choose to make it.  We can spend an entire day on it, or just a few minutes before going to bed.  The important part is to take the things we think about daily, but don’t ever really do, out of our mind and put them into an action plan so we don’t have to think about them anymore.

Click here or on the images below to learn more about the outfit.

Click here or on the images below to learn more about the outfit.

 

I am always curious to hear from you and what you see in the workplace. Send your questions, comments and pet peeves to [email protected]. Also find each of these storyboards at http://brianmaynor.polyvore.com with links to purchase each item.

 

About Brian Maynor

Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.