How to declutter your mind: spring clean your brain.

When we’re caught up in our heads, distracted by the flood of thoughts, we’re not present, sharp or concentrated. And when we’re not focused, we lose the real-world connection.

But how do you begin to clear away the clutter the human eye can’t actually see? Decluttering the mind requires us to become intentional on where we place our attention and how we spend our time and energy.

Here are ten basic yet powerful tips to help you de-stress your brain in a matter of seconds. Pick a couple to experiment with, and check whether they work for you.

1. write everything down. If you have a bunch of things on your mind, it helps to get them on paper and off your mind. Writing down your tasks and ideas prevents your head from being loaded up with all that you have to do and remember.

2. start a diary. Keeping a diary is an incredible method to loosen up your mind by breaking down and sorting out your thoughts. You can even start a gratitude journal and give yourself a few minutes everyday to note a couple of things you're thankful for. Writing consistently will help you overcome nervousness and manage anxiety, as it's a safe outlet to let go of your hidden feelings.

3. set priorities. Prioritizing your is a great way to actively take charge of your life. Prepare a list of your top goals and make sure that your actions and the decisions you take to reflect on them. I believe in keeping your goals simple, and if you do that, the setting and management of them are not that hard.

4. don't be so serious. Laughing has been proven to be the best medication for calming stress. Practice not paying that much attention to yourself and your failures and smile more often. Truly giggle. Smiling makes you look more attractive, and it actually makes you more confident in the long term.

5. meditate. Take a full breath. Hold. Breathe out gradually. Repeat. Mindful breathing is a simple yet efficient method to clear your brain, bring peace and elevate your state of mind in a second. It brings down the pulse which helps your body to unwind. Other than being a pressure reliever, meditation brings focus and promotes concentration.

6. reevaluate your sleep. Sometimes we just aren’t getting enough rest, or our sleeping patterns aren’t perfect. I’m not saying that you have to completely change your sleeping schedule, yet some of the time it can do wonders. Getting enough sleep helps keep your mind and body healthy.

7. control your media intake. Watching or listening to anything just because it’s on isn't the best idea. When you start paying attention to the things on the radio or tv, you will notice that it isn't benefiting your life in any way. The media you consume affects your emotional well-being. Whatever you do, reading blogs, scrolling down Tumblr, watching vlogs, can sometimes clog your brain. Limiting the amount of time you spend online is necessary to get rid of all that clutter from your mind. It is only causing you stress and anxiety anyways.

8. learn to let go. Since when does stressing get you anywhere? Get rid of all those pointless, negative thoughts of worry. When we do this, we definitely lessen the amount of "stuff" that needs our mental engagement and drains our energy. Our brains are constantly switching between worries, decisions, desires, and fears. Try paying attention to your mind and replace negative thoughts with positive ones. You'll quickly notice an improvement in your whole point of view toward life.

9. avoid multitasking. Multi-tasking fills your mind with a lot of activity with an excess amount of productivity or happiness as a result. Instead, try to simply focus on one action at a time. Clear away everything else, make lists of things you need to accomplish that day, don't be distracted. Eliminate all the unnecessary actions. Single-tasking will help you decrease pressure, and free up mental space.

10. declutter your workspace. Having a lot of stuff around you isn't just a visual problem. It occupies your mind. Organizing your space will make you feel more in control and ready to conquer life. Carefully evaluate your workspace, get rid of unnecessary objects and don’t look back once you’ve made up your mind.

11. take a break. Your brain needs to rest and recharge in order to perform on the highest level. So do something that makes you feel happy. Take time to relax your mind every day. And by doing that regularly, you’ll find focus more easily than ever before.

12. get creative. All you need is a free imagination. Try something new: dancing, singing, coloring, drawing, cooking. The point is to get lost and wonder like you did when you were a kid. The important thing is to have fun and let go.

13. move your body. Get active and get your endorphins pumping. Exercise will boost your energy, and improve your mood. Find an activity that inspires you, because doing any kind of physical activity is a great way to get stuff off your mind. Spending some physical energy clears your brain.

As with anything, getting rid of mental clutter can be made incredibly simple. Use this changing of seasons to spark a change in your mind. If something no longer has value to your life, don’t be afraid to let it go. Minimize the stuff that keeps you stressed and return to the peace and freedom you were born with.