Why creating space in your life is always the answer

Creating space, I would argue, is the key to locating that elusive deep sense of inner peace.

In a world beset with extreme levels of stress and busyness, we need space now more than ever. We’re overstimulated and undernourished in so many areas, that we should be doing all we can to actively counteract this by uncovering spaciousness in all its forms. In doing this, we’ll regain some of the control we’ve sacrificed in relation to our mental and physical well-being, our relationships as well as our creativity.

Picture your wardrobe

Think of your brain as being just like your favourite, albeit stuffed, wardrobe – full of your personal belongings. You keep opening it up just so that you can shove something new into it. Eventually, you run out of space. There’s no more room. 

Similarly, your mind is also jammed with lists of things to do, memories, worries, regrets relating to things not done and every known piece of useless information. It represents that sense of your ‘head being so full it feels like it could burst’.

Why is it then that you allow yourself to get so frustrated by the total lack of new ideas, opportunities, or possibilities? Where do you think they will go and where are they expected to land? Remember, after all, that there is no space!

Declutter your brain

This is why it’s so necessary for us to remain mindful of the role decluttering plays in our lives and in our brains. If I’m being honest, it’s also why I’m such a massive fan of journaling. Among the myriad benefits it offers, the subsequent space that we create from this simple daily practice makes it so incredibly worthwhile. In the plainest of terms, when we journal, we extricate what’s in our heads and get it out onto paper; we organise our thoughts prioritising and putting order on them.

As a direct consequence, we make room for new ideas, new thoughts, and perspectives. Without this clearing, everything remains the same. You remain the same and you remain frustrated as to why things won’t change for you.

Here are some strategies to help you create more space:

Your mental space:

• Learning how to say no and setting better boundaries around your time and energy in all areas of your life.  Prioritising yourself and declining commitments that you know will drain and deplete you or that won’t align with your priorities.
• Limiting your exposure to social media and reducing the amount of time you spend on electronic devices, especially before bedtime. Constant exposure to screens can contribute to mental fatigue and will make it difficult to unwind. It might seem old-fashioned, but take a notepad to bed with you so that any disruptive thoughts of things that need your attention can be recorded and forgotten.

 

Your physical space:

• The aforementioned decluttering process. This requires you to take the time to remove any clutter from your living or working environments. 
• Getting outdoors and spending time in nature; making time to fully connect with the natural world by going out for walks, hugging trees, sea swimming sea, gardening… you get the idea!

 

Your social space:

• Nurture deep personal connections that are meaningful and rewarding. Invest your time and energy in building and maintaining relationships with friends and family and those who simply make you feel good about yourself. 
• Surround yourself with supportive and warm people, who uplift and encourage you, who want the best for you. Limit the time you’re spending with those who drain and deplete your energy or make you feel less. Remember, we teach others how to treat us by how we treat ourselves so be compassionate with yourself at all times.

Finding space in your life is essential for many reasons, all of which contribute to your overall well-being and quality of life, but they include some of the following: 

• Reducing Stress and avoiding burnout
• Fostering greater mental clarity
• Boosting creativity
• Enriching your relationships
• Promoting self-discovery
• Nurturing physical health & well-being
• Supporting elation and excitement

 

The real benefits

This wonderful feeling of spaciousness also allows us to distance ourselves from the constant demands and pressures of everyday life. Just by freeing up our environment, we know that it will inevitably lead us to possess greater clarity and focus. This lucidity enables us to prioritise tasks that are important to us and empowers us to make decisions much more effectively.

When we have extra room to breathe and think, we’re better able to concentrate and boost our productivity, which helps us to accomplish far more in a shorter time frame.

Space also provides us with the freedom for creativity to flourish. When we are not overwhelmed by clutter or multiple distractions, we can tap into our creative potential more easily and generate fresh new ideas and innovative solutions to whatever’s on our minds!

Ultimately, creating more spaciousness in your life leads to a greater sense of satisfaction and fulfilment. You’re able to live more authentically, in alignment with who you are, your values and priorities, and experience a far deeper sense of contentment with what you have. And let’s face it, who doesn’t want more of that?

Niamh Ennis is a leading Change & Transformation Coach who through her private practice, workshops, programmes, and podcast has helped thousands of women get greater clarity and embrace change in their lives and their businesses. She’s an accredited Personal, Leadership & Executive Coach and the Lead Coach in the IMAGE Business Club. Instagram @1niamhennis.

Feature image via @beyonce