Anytime is a good time to complete a Spring clean of our lives because it frees up mental space. It gives us the energy to take on new things. Spring is a natural point for us to consider our mental well-being and reconnect to things that support the life we want to live. It is a great time to reflect on: where have we been, where are we now, and where do we want to go. A Spring clean of your life is about replenishing whatever allows you to feel happy, healthy, and nourished. It is a process of making room for how you want to live.
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Using temperature as the measure of a season, Spring is a very brief period in Arizona. That’s why my Spring cleaning began in February. Over the past few months, I have found myself cleaning up a lot of things that no longer serve me in the life I want to live. For example, I finally shed those Covid pounds, gave away or consigned clothes and way too many pairs of shoes, downsized my home, and worked on a big project … a remodel of my husband. That’s what he calls it. :) He’s been working on making big changes in his life, too.
Before You Begin
If you think it’s time for a fresh start this Spring, here are some tips to consider before you begin - to help support you now and also plan for future “cleaning”.
Create a schedule of regular maintenance. As you do your first Spring clean, keep a log of what you did and when it would be a good time to do it again. In other words, create a calendar of activities you can do over the course of the upcoming weeks and months. For example, maybe Friday afternoon is the time you clean your work area and empty your email inbox.
Find time to regularly reflect on your life. Our lives are constantly changing. For us to adapt and grow requires us to intentionally consider what is serving us and what is not. To add new and exciting things requires us to edit certain things from our lives. Otherwise, we can feel dragged down by commitments and even relationships that do not replenish us.
Commit to a time to start. If possible, find a few days you can dedicate a block of time to begin. It might be a weekend or even an evening where you do not have other commitments.
Support your Body and Soul
For an optimal mind and soul, try this process before and after each cleaning activity:
Pre-Clean Activity. Sit in silence for a few minutes to reflect on an area of your life that you are detoxing or cleaning today. Visualize how it will feel once you have gotten rid of the things that no longer serve you. Visualize waking up to a clean and fresh bedroom, cooking in a decluttered kitchen, or starting the week with an organized inbox and an updated to-do list.
Post-Detox Activity. After you complete your hard work for the day, you may feel both physically and mentally exhausted. Consider a reward for your hard work such as a hot bath or shower, a cup of tea or a glass of wine if that is your thing. Take a moment to express gratitude for your life and for completing this important work in creating space for something new and exciting. Beware that you may have stirred up some unwanted feelings as you completed your cleaning activity. If this occurs, take a few moments to acknowledge them and release them with your breath.
My guess is many of you are feeling the need to make changes in your life, too. Over the next few weeks, we will explore various areas for you to consider for your Spring clean. These topics include:
Declutter Your Space
Clean Your Digital World
Overhaul Your Relationships
Remodel Your Daily Routine
Rewire Your Brain for Happiness
We hope you will join us on our Spring cleaning journey. To support you, we will be posting tips and ideas on our social media platforms as well. We are also offering our new app, Levelhead for Real Life, for a special introductory price. It’s an essential cleaning tool with over 100 micro-lessons to reduce stress, boost focus, increase gratitude, and so much more! Head to either the Apple App Store or Google Play to download today! Finally, many of these topics are explored in more depth in my book, Thriving in a Global Pandemic and Beyond. Go to https://store.bookbaby.com/ for a 20% discount when you use the code: SpringClean.