Spring is traditionally associated with new life and fresh
beginnings–trees and flowers start to bloom, brighter days and warmer weather appear, and a sense of
renewed spirit and energy comes alive after the cold, long winter. So what does
the start of the season mean for us human beings? It’s means a great time for a little mental and
physical spring cleaning!
Here are a few ways you can clear out the literal (and metaphorical) dust bunnies in your life:
De-Clutter Your Home: It’s time to conquer all your around-the-house clutter. What needs the most work? What needs the least? Start with what seems manageable. You will be more likely to keep going when your efforts are rewarded relatively easily.
Tackle one space at a time, and work from smaller to larger. For instance, start with one bedroom drawer and work up to the whole dresser, and then onto the closet. Do rooms one by one, instead of the whole house at once. Head to the outside rooms when the weather is nice. Having a goal, say one area per week or even per month, will help you maintain focus.
If you need a little help in your spring cleaning efforts, try to get
your friends and family involved. Even the most unwilling helper can make a big
difference in the work load. Teaching kids to clean up and organize is also great training for their future endeavors.
Organize Your Mind: When’s the last time you relaxed, practiced meditation, and created a plan for yourself for the days and months ahead? Making a list of projects and activities can really help give order to what seems like chaos. Make sure to list things you can look forward to along with ones you don’t.
Setting goals for the coming day, week, month or season can help you keep track of your busy schedule. Planning in downtime, with nothing to do but relax or have fun, is just as important as scheduling all your to-dos. Without fun, rest and downtime, we lose valuable time that our bodies need to recharge and keep us going.
Meditation is simply a practice of sitting and breathing for a period of
time, paying more attention to your breaths than to the thoughts that
run through your head. You can focus on an image or word/phrase, as
well. Even 5 minutes a day can help you learn to relax, calm your mind,
and reduce anxiety and and stress.
Cleanse Your Body: Ready to lose the toxins and winter blahs? Consider a spring cleanse or juicing fast on a weekend you have free. Cleanses, when done properly, can be a great way to get rid of all the sluggish winter energy, balance your body’s pH, and help jumpstart weight-loss efforts. Don’t start a cleanse if you are experiencing a cold or flu, or any other acute illness as cleanses can put more stress on the body. Wait until you are relatively healthy, and then flush your body’s system with the cleanse.
Now is also the best time to start exercising or increasing your level of physical activity. Get outside this week: rake, garden, trim the hedges, walk your dog, play in the park with the kids, walk to the grocery store, or take up a new hobby or sport. Being more active doesn’t have to be grueling! Having fun (and people to have fun with) can really keep you motivated and moving.
If you can’t get to a sauna or steamroom, treat your bathroom like a mini-spa. Scrub your skin toe to head with a warm, moist towel before a bath or shower. Then spend a few extra minutes soaking in the heat while your pores open up, and rinse off with cooler water. Afterward, apply a facial mask to help remove debris from deep in your skin. Lastly, drink a full glass of water to flush everything through your system.
Try one or two of these ideas this week and see how you feel!