3 Tips for Spring Cleaning
Typically, spring is an exciting time of the year, where flowers are blooming, the sun is out longer, the weather is getting nicer, and of course, it is also that time of year where we end up getting rid of things that have been stuffed in our closets and drawers throughout the past year that we may not even remember where there. Maybe you made use of your extra time at home already during the past year to clean, organize, and revamp your living space; or maybe you may not even know where to begin with your spring cleaning after how overwhelming and exhausting things have been lately. So that is where I come in! I am here to help give you some tips on a couple of simple ways you can freshen up and declutter your physical living space, as well as your mental living space.
Declutter
What do you think of when you hear this word? Does it stress you out? Does it provide some sense of relief? When we think of decluttering, we typically think of our physical space—such as that jacket sitting in the back of our closet we bought a few months ago and never wore, or that puzzle we never had time to do that has been sitting on the kitchen table collecting dust, or maybe even your kitchen table that you turned into a makeshift work-from-home desk that now has stacks of paper and office supplies scattered everywhere. Believe it or not, our physical space is partially responsible for our mental health. Most of the time when we see clutter, we feel “cluttered”. Ask yourself these 3 simple questions when going through decluttering each room of your living space:
Did I use this in the past month?
Why am I keeping it?
How does this make me feel?
While getting rid of the things you no longer need, it is important to also organize the things that make your living space a home. Decorating each room of your living space can be super important too; decorating is something we can use to display parts of our personality or even just having things we enjoy looking at out in the open! Adding some plants to a room, using bright or calming colors to freshen up the walls, and even having some candles out can really add a personal vibe to your own space.
Restore
Maybe we had some New Year’s resolutions that have already faded because we just didn’t have the time or energy to maintain them, the right support, or we didn’t make it an attainable goal. No worries! The best time to start was yesterday, the next best time is now! Now is the time to just get back on that path and restore that goal you had in mind. Maybe it was to do more physical exercise and better your health. Or possibly you have been wanting to meet new people or connect with people you haven’t seen or talked with in a while. Or maybe you have been wanting to find a new hobby. Or perhaps it is to beat that negative voice in the back of your head that has been holding you back from trying new things or maintaining these goals. Whatever it is, be sure to ask yourself these 5 things when creating a goal:
What is my expectation/desired outcome?
Is this attainable?
How will I measure my progress?
What is the timeline for reaching this goal?
How will I continue to motivate myself?
Maintenance
Keeping to a goal can be extremely difficult and stressful. Maybe the first week or the first month is the easiest for you in keeping to a goal; maybe it takes several months to burn out. Whatever it may be, it is all about trial and error. You have to find what works for you! Everyone has their own list of objectives to accomplish in a day. Whether you have little ones, work more than one job, may be a caretaker—it can be a lot! If it is getting increasingly difficult to reach a goal, change it up! Wake up earlier, switch your routine up, try something new…routines don’t work unless you do. So how can we stay motivated? Try a vision board, post positive affirmations around your living space, set reminders, start a journal to keep track of progress, watch a motivational video, start decluttering a room by just getting rid of 1-3 items per day, or even put up a picture on your fridge of that outfit you have been trying to fit into for a year that has been sitting in the back of that closet! Practice makes perfect.
If you're struggling, seek help. Sharp Wellness offers individual, couples, family, and group therapy to help support you and help you live your best life. Contact us now.
Stephanie Rotondo
Licensed Professional Counselor