Let’s be honest, doing one self-check-in every 365 days can feel like plenty when it comes to reflecting on your life. For most people, it only happens on New Year’s or during an existential crisis. Both can feel forced. Both are overwhelming. Spring cleaning is a time for purging dirty and dull things from our homes - why shouldn’t we take the turn of the season to spring clean our lives, too? Right now is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the (welcomed) foreign feeling of warmth on your skin to throw out the things that don’t serve you anymore - including cleaning up your headspace.
Ditching our bad embedded behaviors can be as simple as noticing that they’re there. Whether it’s sitting down and organizing your thoughts and goals or just organizing your closet, spring cleaning comes in handy for all facets of our lives. It’s incredible how easy it can be to cross off that one task you’ve been procrastinating or finally open the book that’s been sitting on your bedside table if you just start moving in that direction. Let’s capitalize on this newly found positive attitude (and hour of daylight). Ready. Set. Refresh.
Here are some ideas to get going when it comes to spring cleaning your life:
Go Through Your Junk Drawer & Closet
Set Up a Fresh Space for a Clear Mind
Make A Spring Goals List
Hardwire New Habits (See How Below)
Meet with Your Doctor & Therapist
GO THROUGH YOUR JUNK
Clutter is a physical manifestation of the little things that can build up in our lives and distract us from what really matters. When it comes to the traditional sense of spring cleaning, there are few things more fulfilling than throwing away the things that are cluttering your space. Tackling a junk drawer or the top of your desk is a great starting point for your spring cleaning self-check-in.
Take Your Wardrobe by Storm
Go through your closet and try on all of those tops that you can’t remember the last time you wore. Donate what doesn’t fit right or throw a clothing swap party with a bunch of girlfriends to give it a new life. Consider moving the clothes that you’re pleasantly surprised by into the front of your closet. This will help to force you to re-incorporate them into your wardrobe. Then if you realize that you just keep avoiding the article despite your efforts…say goodbye. For those few vintage or memorable gems that you just can’t part with, put them in storage or a dedicated drawer. I get it, with all this 90s nostalgia today, it feels hard to toss some stuff with fear it’ll come back en vogue.
When it comes to never-before-worn clothes or books, try to consign or sell them at places like Buffalo Exchange or Half Priced Books. Then you can replace it with something you actually love.
SET UP A FRESH SPACE FOR A CLEAR MIND
After you’ve cleaned up some clutter, you might find that you have a little more space to breathe into than you had before. If you don’t already have a space in your house or apartment where you can retreat for a moment of calm, think about creating one. It can be as simple as a chair in a corner with a little table to sit your coffee where you meditate in the morning. Sometimes all it takes to start the season fresh and renewed is creating a special space that allows for the practicing of hobbies or even just escaping the outside world for a little while.
MAKE A SPRING GOALS LIST
Now that we’re a safe distance from our New Years’ resolutions, it’s time to reaccess your progress. Maybe certain goals aren’t developing in the way you hoped. Maybe you bit off a little more than you could chew with too big of a plan. Look at this as a check-in to assess how you can rework your habits and schedule to better progress.
One way to tackle this is by breaking it down into more suitable-sized undertakings rather than an abstract concept. This way, you’ll bypass that end-of-year feeling of failure after forgetting to focus on what’s important to you. Here are some ideas to freshen up your spring and your day to day life in a manageable way:
Read one book by June: You’ve been talking about wanting to read more for years. Put the book on your bedside table and plan to read a few pages a night before bed. You have a few months to make this happen. You got it.
Catch up with three different friends: You keep saying “We have to get together soon” but time keeps moving. Shoot that someone a text today and get plans on the calendar ASAP. You’ll have the bonding session to look forward to with concrete plans versus a loose idea. It’s incredible how quickly time can fly and suddenly you realize you’ve been talking about grabbing coffee for over six months.
Practice art or write letters on Sundays: You know that downtime of dread on Sundays leading up to the new work week? Use it to tap into your creativity as a release. Plus it is another thing you spent time accomplishing no matter how small.
HARDWIRE NEW HABITS WITH THESE TOOLS
Hoping to take your habit-forming to the next level? I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again - I HIGHLY recommend buying the Best Self Journal. It’s a daily planner dedicated to pushing real change and new habit-forming in 13-week, less daunting doses. It has helped to make me a huge reader, flosser, and I’m finally getting back into stretching and yoga.
RELATED: RE-WIRE YOUR IDIOT BRAIN WITH THIS PRODUCTIVITY TOOL AND HABIT FORMER
Not totally certain where to start when it comes to re-evaluating your habits? Start with a list of how you spend your day. Perhaps two lists, one of a weekday routine and one of a weekend routine. Let’s be honest, they probably vary immensely. Take a look at those habits and question which ones are good versus bad versus neutral. Then make another list of any behaviors you’d like to incorporate into your life. Some examples include: taking vitamins, going on a daily stroll around the block, waking up at 7:30 am, eating more fruit, journaling, practicing more golf. The list could go on forever. See where you can add those behaviors into your daily schedule to make the transition as seamless as possible.
Self-Help Books about Habit-Forming:
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg
MEET WITH YOUR DOCTOR + THERAPIST
No life spring cleaning is complete without checking in with your mind and body. For the best possible check-in, bring it to a professional. As wonderful as venting at those friend dates can be, you rarely see tangible actions or totally clarity from it. If you’ve never been to a therapist before, make an appointment! Vow you’ll go to one session and if you hate it, no love lost. But if you love it, bam, you’ve got a new therapist and outlet for growth and have officially spring cleaned your life.
If you can’t remember the last time you went to the doctor, be it a skin check-in, a dental cleaning, or an annual, nothing will leave you feeling sure of yourself and your future like a green check from a healthcare professional. While you’re at it, buy yourself a multi-vitamin. Make it a gummy, because there’s nothing like nutritious candy. Put it on your bathroom counter. and take one every night. BOOM, you’re an image of health.
Making changes in your life doesn’t always have to be a major undertaking. Sometimes all you need to do is take a moment to refresh your mindset and your habits to get your focus back on track. Take it little by little and you’ll be a little better every day. After all, one big spring cleaning doesn't keep the house tidy for the year. Upkeep is key when it comes to continued growth.
