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How to Tidy Your Mind: Tips and Techniques to Help You Reduce Mental Clutter and Find Calm
A tidy mind is a calm mind. Through a series of easy-to-follow tips, this book will help you clear your mental clutter, improve your clarity and find peace.
Do you ever feel frazzled and unable to concentrate? Are you drained by the never-ending to-do list in your head? Would you like to feel more in control? If the answer is “yes”, you are not alone – and it might be time to give your mind a spring clean.
Mental clutter is anything in your head that takes up time and energy, and when there’s too much, the mind becomes exhausted. But with a few simple techniques, you can bring order to your inner world and find a sense of peace again.
This guide will help you
Learn what mental clutter is and how it manifestsIdentify the causes of your mental clutter – from to-do lists, to decision-making and information overloadReduce the burden on your mind and improve your mental clarityKeep your mind tidy over the long termHow to Tidy Your Mind will help you say “no” to mental clutter and “yes” to feeling joyful, calm and clear-headed.
Do you ever feel frazzled and unable to concentrate? Are you drained by the never-ending to-do list in your head? Would you like to feel more in control? If the answer is “yes”, you are not alone – and it might be time to give your mind a spring clean.
Mental clutter is anything in your head that takes up time and energy, and when there’s too much, the mind becomes exhausted. But with a few simple techniques, you can bring order to your inner world and find a sense of peace again.
This guide will help you
Learn what mental clutter is and how it manifestsIdentify the causes of your mental clutter – from to-do lists, to decision-making and information overloadReduce the burden on your mind and improve your mental clarityKeep your mind tidy over the long termHow to Tidy Your Mind will help you say “no” to mental clutter and “yes” to feeling joyful, calm and clear-headed.
- GenresNonfiction
160 pages, Paperback
Published August 11, 2022
5 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 6, 2023
I received a copy of this in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley.
Ah, mental clutter. That's a nice way to put things huh? I'll be the first to admit, my mind is overflowing with constant worries and stressors. I feel like there's a never-ending stream of things coming in and out. So the title certainly intrigued me. I also need to say that I typically don't enjoy any sort of "self-help" themed books. I find that most of them are pretty ... nonsensical or bs in ways. As harsh as that may sound.
And that line of thinking continues on with this book. It's full of some ... nice enough quotes and statements telling you WHY you should "tidy your mind," but not many REAL suggestions on how to best do so.
The cover is pretty, and that's... the nicest thing I can say about it all, ha.
Ah, mental clutter. That's a nice way to put things huh? I'll be the first to admit, my mind is overflowing with constant worries and stressors. I feel like there's a never-ending stream of things coming in and out. So the title certainly intrigued me. I also need to say that I typically don't enjoy any sort of "self-help" themed books. I find that most of them are pretty ... nonsensical or bs in ways. As harsh as that may sound.
And that line of thinking continues on with this book. It's full of some ... nice enough quotes and statements telling you WHY you should "tidy your mind," but not many REAL suggestions on how to best do so.
The cover is pretty, and that's... the nicest thing I can say about it all, ha.
February 6, 2023
A nice enough book, it had some nice quotes (if by some questionable authorities!) but it was a bit wishy washy. It told you how important it is to declutter your mind but didn’t go into much detail how. There was a lot of obvious stuff too like eat well and get a good sleep. I probably only took away a handful of gems from it.
September 6, 2022
This book is right up my street. I am the type of person who tries to meditate but spends the whole time with my eyes closed compiling a to do list that I know I won’t get through.
I am surrounded by clutter; my writing space has piles of work in progress and half-filled notebooks, on numerous subjects, scattered all over the place. I never seem to settle on one project. My kitchen/dining/sewing area is a disaster of over ambitious multi-tasking.
This handy book has an appealing format. It is split into four chapters of short sections, as well many relevant quotes from such inspirational figures as Lao Tzu to Nicki Minaj.
The first chapter asks ‘What is Mental Clutter’ and talks about conditions very familiar to me - information overload, stress brain fog. I found the section on multi-tasking particularly interesting because this is probably my biggest issue – I do 100 things at once with nothing done well. I have never heard of the Zeigarnik Effect (where people spend more mental energy focusing on unfinished tasks rather than completing them) but I recognised it. Mental housekeeping, that’s what I needed
The next chapter encourages you to ‘Get to Know Your Mind’. How to recognise patterns of behaviour and taking the time to get to know yourself.
Chapter Three gets down to the nitty gritty of ‘How to Tidy Your Mind’. Get to work and clear that mind, with advice on how to create an effective to do list, the benefits of journaling and some practical ways of streamlining your online life.
So having worked through all this good stuff, how do you prevent falling back into old ways.
The last chapter deals with ‘Keeping Your Mind Tidy’. Using techniques like green therapy - the habit of nature walks, making the occasional appointment with yourself (me time), mini meditations and my favourite, staying grateful by writing down something you are grateful for at the end of each day and storing these little gifts in a jar to be read when you need a lift.
Everything in this book made sense to me, but the beauty of the book is the format. Short snappy sections with those great quotes makes it accessible and easy to dip into to, even for the busiest person.
I am surrounded by clutter; my writing space has piles of work in progress and half-filled notebooks, on numerous subjects, scattered all over the place. I never seem to settle on one project. My kitchen/dining/sewing area is a disaster of over ambitious multi-tasking.
This handy book has an appealing format. It is split into four chapters of short sections, as well many relevant quotes from such inspirational figures as Lao Tzu to Nicki Minaj.
The first chapter asks ‘What is Mental Clutter’ and talks about conditions very familiar to me - information overload, stress brain fog. I found the section on multi-tasking particularly interesting because this is probably my biggest issue – I do 100 things at once with nothing done well. I have never heard of the Zeigarnik Effect (where people spend more mental energy focusing on unfinished tasks rather than completing them) but I recognised it. Mental housekeeping, that’s what I needed
The next chapter encourages you to ‘Get to Know Your Mind’. How to recognise patterns of behaviour and taking the time to get to know yourself.
Chapter Three gets down to the nitty gritty of ‘How to Tidy Your Mind’. Get to work and clear that mind, with advice on how to create an effective to do list, the benefits of journaling and some practical ways of streamlining your online life.
So having worked through all this good stuff, how do you prevent falling back into old ways.
The last chapter deals with ‘Keeping Your Mind Tidy’. Using techniques like green therapy - the habit of nature walks, making the occasional appointment with yourself (me time), mini meditations and my favourite, staying grateful by writing down something you are grateful for at the end of each day and storing these little gifts in a jar to be read when you need a lift.
Everything in this book made sense to me, but the beauty of the book is the format. Short snappy sections with those great quotes makes it accessible and easy to dip into to, even for the busiest person.
January 5, 2023
A short read, definitely, but a great one. The dispersion of text with some motivational quotes mixed in between topics seemed to be a perfect solution to keep a reader engaged, especially someone that might be struggling with their mental clarity. It was quite easy on the eyes, visually pleasing in a way that makes you want to keep reading
I finished this book in one sitting, about 2 hours, while also executing most of the exercises. Though I do admit they could have been done more thoroughly.
A lot of the information you might already have come across online, which is also the reason for the 4/5 stars. But I did enjoy the way it was presented - perfect for someone with brain fog and a decluttered brain. This book will certainly give you motivation and practical tips to move forward if only you allow yourself to focus on the book and absorb the information as efficiently as possible.
I finished this book in one sitting, about 2 hours, while also executing most of the exercises. Though I do admit they could have been done more thoroughly.
A lot of the information you might already have come across online, which is also the reason for the 4/5 stars. But I did enjoy the way it was presented - perfect for someone with brain fog and a decluttered brain. This book will certainly give you motivation and practical tips to move forward if only you allow yourself to focus on the book and absorb the information as efficiently as possible.
September 21, 2022
Instantly appealing title for someone who struggles with multi-tasking, too much time on the phone, distracted by notifications and life in general.
I enjoyed the analogy of a cluttered house and a cluttered mind - I know that it's difficult to concentrate when there's physical untidiness around me, but as this book points out, it's also hard to concentrate when your mind is full of clutter. The beauty of this book lies in its straight-talking, simple approach. It offers practical tips, techniques and encouragement to create healthier mental habits. It breaks it down into small steps to take, so it's not overwhelming. I am going to go back to each chapter and try and implement some of the small changes it suggests.
I enjoyed the analogy of a cluttered house and a cluttered mind - I know that it's difficult to concentrate when there's physical untidiness around me, but as this book points out, it's also hard to concentrate when your mind is full of clutter. The beauty of this book lies in its straight-talking, simple approach. It offers practical tips, techniques and encouragement to create healthier mental habits. It breaks it down into small steps to take, so it's not overwhelming. I am going to go back to each chapter and try and implement some of the small changes it suggests.
July 31, 2023
This book is relatively short and it’s not supposed to bog you down with technical psychological terminologies whatsoever. I believe it is supposed to be a “quick motivational book on being courageous to take steps to prioritise yourself alongside with some useful tips on clearing mental clutter”. It aims to create awareness by reflecting on how you feel and gives you some directional solutions (e.g creating to-do lists, journaling down your thoughts and feelings, practise mindfulness etc.)
The book is also filled iwith many motivational quotes which you may find one that resonates with you. For me, “Saying no does not always show a lack of generosity. And saying yes is not always a virtue.” This quote hits me pretty hard.
The book is also filled iwith many motivational quotes which you may find one that resonates with you. For me, “Saying no does not always show a lack of generosity. And saying yes is not always a virtue.” This quote hits me pretty hard.
May 3, 2023
This book was just okay. Most of the information is common sense, and it didn’t provide a lot of new methods or ideas. The reminders are nice, but I feel like this would have worked better as a workbook format with activities instead of a short collection of quotes and mini passages. One positive is that the format, small passages broken up with quotes, is very visually appealing and quick to read. But I feel like very little of the book was new information or anything that will stick with me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
December 31, 2024
Όχι τόσο καλό όσο προηγούμενα βιβλία της Άννα Μπαρνς. Επίσης δεν υπάρχουν εικόνες κάτι που χαλάει την απόλαυση του διαβάσματος.Οι συμβουλές τύπου "Συμπεριφερσου στον εαυτό σου όπως θα έκανες στον καλύτερο φίλο σου " και " Η αταξία είναι οτιδήποτε μπαίνει ανάμεσα σε σένα και στη ζωή που θέλεις να ζεις" είναι πολύ κοινότυπες. Υπάρχουν επίσης συμβουλές από την Νίκι Μιναζ και τον Γουιλ Σμιθ.
January 14, 2023
A very quick and informative read on tidying your mind. I love the quotes inbetween the main texts - they give you food for thought before embarking on the next section. A great guide you can just dip into whenever you feel overwhelmed. A great read!
January 31, 2023
I loved this! I struggle with having a clear mind, and this book was amazing at describing the work it takes to tidy it and live a happier, healthier life. Would highly recommend to anyone who struggles with overthinking.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book!
January 2, 2023
2.5 stars
It’s short and easy to read but I feel like it could have been more complete.
It’s short and easy to read but I feel like it could have been more complete.
August 21, 2023
It was a really helpful book especially for me who struggles with my mind and how to control it my minds all ways messy so this book really helped me a lot
January 21, 2025
+ Welcome little boost
+ Plenty of decent tips
- Not enough depths to the tips
+ Plenty of decent tips
- Not enough depths to the tips
September 6, 2025
Anna Barnes’ How to Tidy Your Mind is a quick and easy read for anyone needing to rid themselves of mental clutter. Mental clutter is when you busy your mind with too much to do - from big aspirations, to a never-ending to-do list, to feeble attempts to multi-task to get it all done, mental clutter comes in a variety of shapes and forms.
Divided into four chapters, How To Tidy Your Mind covers 1) What is Mental Clutter, 2) Get to Know Your Mind, 3) How to Tidy Your Mind, and 4) Keeping Your Mind Tidy. The chapters are broken into smaller chunks with headings, making this book a breeze to digest in little bits and pieces. More concerned with helping the reader understand what mental clutter is, why it happens, and how to approach it than a strict how-to guide, I found How to Tidy Your Mind to be helpful in assisting me in understanding why I often feel overwhelmed and as if I will never catch up on my life.
This book subtly reshaped my mind, giving me the space and perspective I needed to reconsider my life, determine what is essential, and plan for how I can do more of what matters and less of what doesn’t.
Divided into four chapters, How To Tidy Your Mind covers 1) What is Mental Clutter, 2) Get to Know Your Mind, 3) How to Tidy Your Mind, and 4) Keeping Your Mind Tidy. The chapters are broken into smaller chunks with headings, making this book a breeze to digest in little bits and pieces. More concerned with helping the reader understand what mental clutter is, why it happens, and how to approach it than a strict how-to guide, I found How to Tidy Your Mind to be helpful in assisting me in understanding why I often feel overwhelmed and as if I will never catch up on my life.
This book subtly reshaped my mind, giving me the space and perspective I needed to reconsider my life, determine what is essential, and plan for how I can do more of what matters and less of what doesn’t.
February 7, 2023
A beautiful look though how to utilize your inner light in life and how to make your life brighter. Pun intended. Highly recommend. Especially loved the reflection to true life to humanize my feelings and relate. I felt like this book was SPEAKING TO ME. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews