Happy New Years!

I’m wondering how many of you are sitting on your couches nursing a hangover.  Being an introvert, you all know I sure as hell didn’t celebrate New Year’s eve with a million people  ????????  We sat right here on our own couch, had a few cocktails, and were in bed by 9:30pm.   That’s about as close to celebrating the new year as we get around here.  ????

Today is the day.

Today is the day that I normally set ALL my “goals” in stone.  I don’t use the word “resolutions” because I fail at every last one of them.  The word “goal” seems to be a better word for me.  ????????‍♀️  Maybe it’s a mental thing.

I have several goals in mind personally and professionally that I would LOVE to accomplish this year.   (It’s going to be a good one on all levels!  ????)  Another one of the goals on my personal list is “Self Care.”  Self Care for me means a lot of things:  healthy eating, (see how we are detoxing our diet here) the proper amount of activity and exercise, taking better care of my skin, etc.     It, also, means self-care for my mental health.

This introvert ???????? has a hard time shutting off her brain.  And trust me, there’s a lot going on up there.  ????????‍♀️  Along with the constant swirling, I get drained from large crowds and social environments.   My mental health suffers.  (Seriously)   I actually have to MAKE myself get together with people because I could be a hermit forever in my home.  And, that’s not healthy either.  Therefore, it is necessary to make my surroundings and my daily routines as calm as possible, in order to re-group.  When I keep my mind decluttered, it helps me get through the big social things a little easier.  I made a list of fifteen different ways to declutter and detox my mind from getting overloaded this year and thought they would be fun to share with you.

How to Detox Your Mind – Fifteen Ways

Going into the new year like…..

1. Wake up early for quiet time –   It seems like when I set my alarm for only 15 minutes earlier,  I can get a clearer picture of what I need to accomplish during that quiet time of the day.  That means no television or radio noise.
2. Meditate/Prayer – whether it’s just keeping my mind quiet, or focusing on one particular task, meditation/prayer helps quiet my mind and calm me down.
3. Take long walks with a furry friend –  You all know that Ivy keeps me really calm.  She makes me laugh on a daily basis and walking her kills two birds with one stone:   Calmness and exercise.  If you don’t have a dog of your own, hell, walk your neighbors dog.  They love walking so much, and it makes the walker just as happy.
4. Get your ass up and MOVE – I don’t care how much I absolutely DREAD working out on the death trap in the torture chamber, I feel a million times better when it’s over.  Getting my heart rate up initially makes me feel as though I will die soon, but I have a big drop in tension when it’s done.  Just do it.  (I’m saying that to myself.)  Get those tennies on. 
5. Good old music – If you follow me over on Instagram, you know I love the oldies. ????  If I’m feeling stressed or anxious, jamming out to some old music makes me feel so much better.
6. Set a time limit for gatherings – This is a big one and works really well for both Deb and I.   When we are meeting friends for dinner in a loud environment with lots of people, we set a time that we both feel is appropriate to make the escape.  Trust me, both of us stare at our watches and say, “Are you ready?” exactly at the same time.  ????  Buh bye, now.  ????????‍♀️????????‍♀️
7. Don’t make eye contact – I’m only adding this one because I think it’s so freaking funny. We were in a huge hurry one day.  We ran into the store to grab one item.  Deb looked at me and said, “Don’t make any eye contact and keep your head down.”  ???? Of course, you may appear to be a really big bitch if you do so, but you, also, may appear to be “pre-occupied.”  ????????‍♀️
8. Turn off the news – This is something we did over ten years ago.  Ya, I may barely know the name of the president of the U.S., or that there is a mass murderer running free in the town nearby, but is this information really necessary?  I feel it causes so much more anxiety knowing certain things.  Ignorance REALLY is bliss in certain situations.  Less anxiety is what us introverts all need.
9. Sit in the sunlight – The Winters are long and dark here in Indiana and the sun rarely shines.  But you better believe your bottom dollar that when it does, I am soaking it up.  I pull back the curtains a little farther and let that light in….. within the walls of my quiet house.
10. Take a nap – I have to be honest, this one is so hard for me.  But, there is nothing like a short little nappy to restore my soul.
11. Essential Oils – If you’ve never tried defusing essential oils in your home, you have no clue what you are missing.  They are used for everything:  to calm your mind, to help with sleep issues, to rid your home of bacteria through cleansing the air.  There are so many different less expensive options, but I have my eye on this new diffuser.  It plays soothing songs and it’s just plain beautiful.    Oh…. and if you need to be hooked up with an oil girl.  I can help.
12. Learn how to say NO –   “No.” can be used as a complete sentence.  See the period behind the word NO above?  Ya….  that’s something I am still practicing.  Saying “Yes.” all of the time can create lots of chaotic stress for me.
13. Write in a Journal – Keeping a journal is such a great way to get all of your thoughts – good or bad – out of your mind and on paper.   I actually love to journal but got out of the habit.  Maybe it’s because I write this blog.  ????
14. Watch something really boring at bedtime –  I’ve noticed that when I am nosing around on Pinterest (see my boards) or anything that keeps my mind active, I have the hardest time sleeping. BUT, the television show Forensic Files puts me to sleep in five minutes.  I think it’s the guys voice.  Because, clearly, it seems like watching murder shows would have the opposite effect on me.
15. Declutter your surroundings –  This is a HUGE one for Deb and I both.  If our house has piles of “stuff” lying around, it creates a “busy” environment, which keeps our minds busy.  Pay attention.  When your “stuff” is put away, your mind can focus on something else.

There you have it.

Fifteen ways I have come up with to detox and declutter my mind for the new year.  Are there any that I missed?  Do you guys use anything else that I need to know about?  Let me know in the comments.  Stop by Facebook and Instagram to chat.  We have so much fun over there. ????

Thanks so much for stopping by.  You know how much I pledge my love.

Buy Bye now, said in an old lady’s voice who is focusing on detoxing this week…if I need to point out the obvious.

Danelle