When you think of ‘spring cleaning’, what image comes to your mind?
For me, it’s scenes of dusting wands moving across bookshelves, brooms reaching behind couches and sweeping the pine needles from last year’s Christmas tree, and clouds of shimmering dust particles flying straight through the open window like a flock of spring birds – all while I stand in the middle of the room dressed in a pretty spring dress and a freshly starched apron, smiling, twirling, and singing a happy song (and not lifting a finger LOL)…
Holding this image while I worked always helped me get motivated in the past. I’d start the cleaning day with a nice breakfast and end it with a trip to the store to get a little bouquet of tulips.
This year, though, I’m not feeling it – at least not yet. And I wonder if it’s just me or if it’s the collective heaviness that many of us are affected by.
Just like the dust that accumulates during winter, there is a lot of accumulated residue from the past two years of challenges in our lives. The suffering in Ukraine also adds to this heaviness. Then there are financial challenges, uncertainties, or illnesses that so many are dealing with.
And yet, as difficult as it may seem to get motivated, we all know that the only way out of this is to make some room and space to help us move out of the heaviness – like decluttering.
This decluttering takes the form of things like getting rid of excess stuff, thinning out your wardrobe, cleaning out your pantry and catch-all kitchen drawers, deleting emails you don’t need and useless files that are taking up space on your computer, cleaning your flower beds…
But it’s also about cleansing your body from toxins that might have accumulated over the winter months. And it’s about cleansing your mind from stress, overwhelm, and thoughts that cause you worry and anxiety.
A big list, right?
And most of us can’t just drop the work and dedicate a few days to spring cleaning. So what do we do?
When you think of ‘spring cleaning’, what image comes to your mind?
For me, it’s scenes of dusting wands moving across bookshelves, brooms reaching behind couches and sweeping the pine needles from last year’s Christmas tree, and clouds of shimmering dust particles flying straight through the open window like a flock of spring birds – all while I stand in the middle of the room dressed in a pretty spring dress and a freshly starched apron, smiling, twirling, and singing a happy song (and not lifting a finger LOL)…
Holding this image while I worked always helped me get motivated in the past. I’d start the cleaning day with a nice breakfast and end it with a trip to the store to get a little bouquet of tulips.
This year, though, I’m not feeling it – at least not yet. And I wonder if it’s just me or if it’s the collective heaviness that many of us are affected by.
Just like the dust that accumulates during winter, there is a lot of accumulated residue from the past two years of challenges in our lives. The suffering in Ukraine also adds to this heaviness. Then there are financial challenges, uncertainties, or illnesses that so many are dealing with.
And yet, as difficult as it may seem to get motivated, we all know that the only way out of this is to make some room and space to help us move out of the heaviness – like decluttering.
This decluttering takes the form of things like getting rid of excess stuff, thinning out your wardrobe, cleaning out your pantry and catch-all kitchen drawers, deleting emails you don’t need and useless files that are taking up space on your computer, cleaning your flower beds…
But it’s also about cleansing your body from toxins that might have accumulated over the winter months. And it’s about cleansing your mind from stress, overwhelm, and thoughts that cause you worry and anxiety.
A big list, right?
And most of us can’t just drop the work and dedicate a few days to spring cleaning. So what do we do?
Here is how I’m personally handling it:
- My health is my priority. Morning meditation and a detoxifying diet is a must. I simply can’t go into another cycle of seasons without making space in my mind and body for peace, wellbeing, and joy. With a sense of wellbeing, I’ll be a lot more effective at positively contributing to the wellbeing of the world.
- I’m not bringing anything new in – not a thing. Not a new project, not a new volunteering commitment. As I clean, I am not going to think about decorating, changing any rooms, or buying new hand soap. I want to use up or discard what I have before I bring in more clutter. The only exception are the seeds which I get to start indoors for my vegetable garden, and symbolically for everything good, abundant, and life-giving that’s ahead.
- Cross tasks off of my to-do list. I just turned in my files to complete my taxes. I usually spend days preparing everything, making sure every detail and every transaction is properly (and perfectly) filed, including the ones that don’t make it on the tax forms. This year, I did what was necessary. And I feel just as good 🙂
Please pay attention to your mind and body as we get into the spring.
Make sure your digestive system is working properly and use herbs and spices to help it if it’s sluggish.
Here is how I’m personally handling it:
- My health is my priority. Morning meditation and a detoxifying diet is a must. I simply can’t go into another cycle of seasons without making space in my mind and body for peace, wellbeing, and joy. With a sense of wellbeing, I’ll be a lot more effective at positively contributing to the wellbeing of the world.
- I’m not bringing anything new in – not a thing. Not a new project, not a new volunteering commitment. As I clean, I am not going to think about decorating, changing any rooms, or buying new hand soap. I want to use up or discard what I have before I bring in more clutter. The only exception are the seeds which I get to start indoors for my vegetable garden, and symbolically for everything good, abundant, and life-giving that’s ahead.
- Cross tasks off of my to-do list. I just turned in my files to complete my taxes. I usually spend days preparing everything, making sure every detail and every transaction is properly (and perfectly) filed, including the ones that don’t make it on the tax forms. This year, I did what was necessary. And I feel just as good 🙂
Please pay attention to your mind and body as we get into the spring.
Make sure your digestive system is working properly and use herbs and spices to help it if it’s sluggish.
Song
Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows for you – especially if you decide it’s your cleaning day 🙂
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AND live your dream life.
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event updates directly to your inbox.