While I was in collage I used to clean my room before studying, at that time I saw it as a procrastination. You know the feeling, you wold do almost anything but reading that subject. Well my collage books had thousands of pages, as you can imagine my home was pretty clean!
As the years go by, and my collage was done and finished I still catch myself cleaning when I have something important to decide or do. Some might say it's my sign (Virgo) or that it is a habit I developed, but there is something about decluttering my living space, with clearing my mind.
I am a firm believer that you should "work" on yourself pretty much all your life, so I do tend to analyze mine and others behavior, and make patterns of what feels good and what doesn't, and what is the most effective way to solve everyday stuff. And so, I found out a system that works for me when I have some important "problem" to solve.
Step away from the problem:
I don't think you should run away, I tend to solve everything head on, but a step back is what gave me a new perspective in problem solving. When you manage to look at it from some distance, I think the solution would be better. I am pretty impulsive person, and it can lead to rushing in to and out of things, so a healthy distance is the way I go (if I can).
How I do it?
I have to keep my mind busy, so it wouldn't overreact. Any activity that is physically activating is great for me, there comes cleaning, especially decluttering the space and getting rid of unnecessary things. Throwing out or better yet giving away clothes, cleaning the kitchen or the bathroom is what centers me the most. If that doesn't work, I would go for a long walk, especially now when I have dog. Fresh air and bouncing puppy is sometimes all I need to see to make me happy and "problem solving machine". Gym is also a good solution, when I have one around.
After that comes faze two, as I call it, and that is calming down:
Hot shower followed with a cup of coffee, book or some kind of a puzzle, or even meditation or yoga when I have time, and I'm good to go. My mind is usually ready at this point to make rational decisions, or I like to think that it is :)
What is your method for making big decisions? Be sure to leave a comment, so I could analyze you too :)
With love,
Tamara