by Tina Russo Lancey, CYT, R-AYF, R-CYAMT
Winter is finally on its way out and signs of spring are starting to show up! With the sweet sound of birds, and beautiful colors starting to also return, the urge to do a spring cleaning may take hold. Traditionally we think of spring cleaning as a process involving deep cleaning the physical things we did not touch over winter, such as the areas behind appliances, and storm windows. It is important to not just clean the home, but the mind, body, and soul. Here’s a guide:
- Declutter your space. We know having a cluttered space can put stress on the brain and even fuel feelings of depression. Go through each room and find things you no longer use, and either donate or toss them. Removing clutter in your room, also helps the mind. If something does not have a home or has not been used in the past year or more, it’s time to let go.
- Declutter relationships. Sometimes spring cleaning shows up in the form of removing relationships which no longer are positive or serving. This doesn’t mean going out and formally announcing to someone you feel the relationship is no longer healthy. In your mind, you can let go of feelings of guilt for not accepting invitations or refusing to spend time chatting, etc. Instead, use the time to cultivate new relationships in your church, yoga studio, and places where you find likeminded individuals.
- Clean out the kitchen. The colder months seem to bring more gatherings centered around food which may not be as healthy as you would like (think about all those gifted cookies and fudge). Now is the perfect time to clean out the pantry and fridge, eliminating things which are expired, outdated, or just plain unhealthy. Replace these things with food purchased at local farmers markets and spring produce aisles.
- Meditation and prayer. Have you fallen out of practice with praying and meditating as the world returns to normal, and winter commitments and holidays took precedence? Now is the perfect time to reset your habits, or take up new habits. Casting your burdens on God is one way to clear out your mind, but also praying and meditating on the word of God, drawing you closer to Him, is just one way to rejuvenate this season.
- Clear the digital clutter. We are spending record amounts of time using technology. It’s important to set boundaries when it comes to screen time. Set some rules for tech-free time in your home, and allow yourself to let go of guilty feelings for not sending one more e-mail, or making one more post for yourself or business.
- Journaling. Another way to clear out the mind is to use a journal. Journaling can be achieved through using organized journal prompts, or you can just use the space to dump all your thoughts, feelings, and ideas.
While it’s good to give your house and workspace a good deep clean now and again, be sure to also be mindful of the mind, body, and soul.
Leave a Reply