Self-Care Must: Mindfully Manage Your Virtual Space (and prevent those misfires!)

Start a Virtual Clutter-Clearing, Self-Care Habit and free your precious time and energy, plus trouble shoot any potential misfire mayhem. You will definitely feel the spacious difference… 

[Scroll down to jump right to the 5 Virtual Clutter-Clearing Keys below]

In this mega-digital info sharing era, most of us mere mortals know all too well what it’s like to have that sheer moment of panic when…

You’ve misfired a text or email – to the wrong person. Like, your boss. (Yes, just one of my true stories).

Or how about that moment of remorse, wishing you could take back something you spouted off about on social media…

Or any of those drunk facebook-ing or texting moments (never, ever, a good idea)…

Our own foibles aside, we can begin to glean how the digital arena is wide open for mass spouting off without any checks, balances, or accountability measures.

The amount of noise and clutter bombarding us every day, in so many ways, is unprecedented and still growing in leaps and bounds.

Do your own search to check out the enormity of scope here. The search for toothpaste is at a whopping 105,000,000 entries.

Looking for health care insurance options or information? 426,000,000 entries. (Another lesson I learned the hard way – don’t sign up for your healthcare or other info online like I did – telemarketers are still calling 2 years later.)

In light of it ALL, it’s becoming not only a vital life skill, but an important act of Self Care, to learn to manage the junk-info overload.

If we’re not always able to prevent the onslaught, we can at least become skilled at nipping it in the bud.

Make it part of a clutter clearing routine and greatly limit or even stop the barrage of emotional and energetic drains that come with the endless seemingly uncontrollable streams and feeds – that, if left to their own devices (pun intended) – can feel like an infringement or even a violation.

And then there’s the unnecessary drama we take part in or just can’t pry ourselves away from. Or maybe we can’t help but say our piece (or can we…?).

We can also make a habit of over-relying on all the positive, healthy, helpful and inspirational sources (like this!).

Believe it or not, you can overdose on the good stuff, too. There is just, sooo much… which begs the question… how much do we really need?

An over-reliance on external info – whether it’s positive or negative – puts us in the habit of constantly looking outside ourselves for answers and validation instead of developing our own vital inner-resource – our own Heart Center, our Core of Presence… where our sense of inner-Truth and wisdom, our intuition, our connection to the bigger picture, and to each other’s hearts… awakens.

With so many results and ramifications of the onslaught and overload, it’s no wonder we have less and less time for what IS important, energizing, and life-affirming.

So, what’s a normal, busy, modern day person (with a Heart) to do?

Clearly, not ALL information is a bad thing. There’s a lot of helpful info and enjoyable entertainment, too.

The key is to learn to efficiently sift, sort, and clear it out, so our precious time and energy is empowered instead of drained and sucked away.

You’re already off to a great start just by acknowledging the situation and being here. Carry on below…

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A few insights to help you create an effortless, virtual clutter-clearing system:

1. Become more mindful of info clutter and noise overload.

Simply bringing your Higher Awareness to all the incoming media and info starts to open your mental space. And out of spaciousness comes broader perspectives and new insights, solutions and ideas…

2. Become aware of your tendencies and triggers.

• What hot topics do you jump in on without pausing? (Is there a better use of your time?)
• What “pops” up on your phone or screens that irritates you? (Like, so, many, commercials!)
• What level of consuming and sharing is right for you? Note when it’s out of balance or control.

3. PAUSE to use your filters (Heart Filter, BS Filter, Spam Filters…).  When you’re checking emails, feeds, incoming info… check in with your Self. BEFORE you engage, try the Mind-Body-Heart Check:

• Return to your Center, listen to your body… is it at ease, uplifted, energized, or tensing up, shutting down, is there unease in your gut or heart? What’s it telling you?
• Listen to your “Head’s” version (your conditioned self), hear out your honesty.
• Then, listen to the Higher Wisdom of your Heart (I also refer to this as your BS filter ;)).
• Note the difference between your head and heart versions.
• Ask your Heart if it rings True, in a Higher Truth sense (as a writer, I also promote ALWAYS checking facts and source credibility, as well. More than 1 source or POV is always better).
• Ask, “Is this really important for me?” Or “can I make a positive difference?”
• If “Yes,” ask, “How can I add Heart Quality?”: Hold an intention of adding light, sharing your truth in kindness, respect, unity, or finding an inroad to peace… (in your own heart first and foremost).

4. Make your choice, know your options: If the info, post, video, show… doesn’t resonate with you, you always have options:

• Take an indefinite Pause (see above).
• Delete, delete, delete…
• De-follow
• Unsubscribe
• Turn it off
• Set up SPAM or other useful filters
• Instead of cable, stream from providers (so you choose what you watch – it can be money-saving to boot).
• Take periodic breaks from social/media AND devices.

5. When in doubt, clear it out! Make this a rule of thumb as you set up a system for yourself. I do a quick daily clear out, as I go. I give the “save for later” stuff until the end of the week. Then I do an end-of-week batch filing, clearing, tossing, deleting, as well. This little phrase can go a long way toward helping you create a new standard for clutter-free living.

Practice the above habits a little while, and you will learn to more instantaneously read your mind/body/heart and make wise choices for you.

Plus, along the way you’ll be developing the skill set for info clearing, and maintaining a simpler, more spacious digital and info realm to live in. Just say aahhhhh….

You will feel the lightening up, physically, emotionally and energetically. Not to mention, you’ll relish the time it will end up saving you.

And do take the time to revel in a sense of freedom and empowerment as you delete, clear, and conquer your virtual clutter more and more efficiently. It is an ongoing process and journey. Keep on it, your precious mental health and well-being will most definitely thank you!