Try Spring Cleaning Your Life!

I remember the extensive spring cleaning that my mother always did. It included washing all the windows inside and out, washing curtains and drapes, special attention to the floors, airing out blankets, coats and other heavy winter things before storing them for the summer. Walls and baseboards were washed and any spiderwebs in corners of the ceiling that hadn’t been removed met their demise. And about the curtains — there was a time when there were lace curtains in the living room and dining room that had to be washed, starched and stretched dry on wooden frames with tiny sharp nails. Does anyone else have those memories?

Another part of the process was cleaning the front porch which had been closed to use for the winter and dust and grime had accumulated. When that was finished, we could again use it — a real mark of spring and the anticipation of summer.

I have not carried on the tradition of seasonal cleaning in this way. Truth be told, I’m not that kind of housekeeper at all. The concept of spring cleaning, however, can be applied to our lives in productive ways.

Here are nine examples of spring cleaning tasks of this type for you to consider:

Take Stock

Before you start, take careful stock of how you are currently doing. Do you have goals? How are they going? Are there any areas of your life you’d like to change up? Taking stock of where you are will help you direct your energy where it’s needed.

Clean Up Your Relationships

Do you have any toxic relationships? Maybe it is time to part ways with these people or modify the types and amount of time you spend with them. We all need people in our lives that cheer us up, lift us up or build us up.

Tidy Up Your Habits

Look at your habits and assess whether they are positive and helpful or not — or if you have fallen into some ruts that you want to get out of. Bad habits add up over time and cost you in the long run. Spring is a perfect time to build some new positive habits.

Clear Your Mind

In our busy lives, it’s so easy to end up with a lot of clutter in our heads. People, projects, work, and the events in our world all contribute. Three strategies that can be very effective in clearing your mind and helping you gain clarity and direction are brain dumps, journaling, and meditation. Learn how to most effectively do brain dumps here: https://carolbrusegar.com/feeling-overwhelmed-try-a-brain-dump/

If you’d like to explore more about journaling and all the ways to use it effectively, here’s what I wrote about it: http://carolbrusegar.com/journaling-as-a-tool/

Unplug

Technology is great, but sometimes we need to unplug and live in the moment. You can take a social media sabbatical or break. You can choose a smaller number of platforms to be actively engaged. You can set time parameters for time spent on your devices. Any of these can free up time for person-to-person engagement, being more observant and connected to what’s around you, and reading more.

Refresh Your Fitness Routine

Do you have a fitness routine? Has it become boring or stale? Use spring cleaning time to consider a new exercise, sport, or activity that gets you excited — or at least is enjoyable — and fit it into your daily routine.

Springify Your Diet

Many of us fall into eating habits over the winter months that aren’t the best for us. We can’t continue to hide under big sweaters and coats, and we may be feeling sluggish and bloated. Clothes may not be fitting comfortably. This is a great time to look at what we’re eating and what additions and subtractions to make as we move into a new season. Experiment with a healthier diet that you can sustain and even enjoy. A total change is often not necessary. Try cutting out a few things and adding new ones.

Organize Your Workspace

This is almost real spring cleaning! Organizing your workspace is a great way to boost your productivity and get more excited about working in general. Make sure every item has its space and every space has a purpose. Put things that aren’t used regularly into drawers or closets to open your space — and remember where you put them (maybe even write it down)! Add some seasonal wall decor to brighten up the room. Add some candles with light, spring type scents here and in other parts of your home. There’s a great variety of seasonal scented candles here to choose from: Spring Scented Candles

Check Your Goals

We’re now into the second quarter of the year. Whether you meticulously set goals in January or have been sliding into the year with a less structured approach, this is a time to look at goals. A helpful tool is The 12 Week Year by Brian Moran and Michael Lennington. It’s a great approach to accomplishing what we wish in a much more manageable time frame.

Spring cleaning our homes is a worthy activity if it contributes to our overall wellbeing. Spring cleaning our life can be even more valuable and transformative. Look at the list of options, choose the ones that you want to start with and go from there. Happy Spring!

This was first published on my blog, https://carolbrusegar.com/try-spring-cleaning-your-life/

I’m Carol Brusegar, author, photographer and curator of information. My focus is on gathering and writing on topics that enhance all our lives — regardless of our age. Topics include health and wellness, personal development, innovation and creativity, and a variety of helpful, practical tools and practices. I have a special interest in helping people over 50 years of age to create their 3rd Age — the next stage of their lives — to be the best it can be.