 |
| Are you getting bombarded with tips for “spring cleaning”? Does it excite you? Intimidate you? Make you cringe at the thought of it? Too daunting to think about all the areas of your life needing cleansing, freshening and refreshing? Be assured…you are not alone! Here’s a thought! Before pulling out the rubber gloves, Swiffer and Windex, frantically launching yourself at everything needing attention, how about pausing, taking a few minutes to narrow the focus? Zeroing in on the things that matter and are very DOABLE. Building momentum with those specific areas, seeing where it takes you. Identifying only the places you need to clean, to give you the same desired effect, some semblance of peace within and around you. Setting yourself up for a calmer, smoother transition from winter to spring, spring into summer. Here are three great places to start: 1. Replace Winter Habits: Time to look at your worn out winter habits and replace them with fresh ideas that are healthier! No more hiding under all those layers of clothes, no longer parking oneself on the couch every night. Finding positive replacement habits that energize you! Maybe it’s skipping the evening news for a brisk walk at dusk. Or substituting your solo mani/pedi for a fun game of tennis with friends. How about hitting a bucket of balls at the range rather than mindlessly browsing in Home Goods. Instead of meeting for happy hour, meet friends for a hike at Caumsett. Bottom line, make habit changes that fit the season, are fruitful for you, and build connection with others. At least take the time to begin making these shifts. You will be ahead of the curve and happy you did! 2. Digital Organization Going Forward: Take a few minutes to decide which tweaks to your digital organization you wish to employ this spring and start to do them GOING FORWARD. Get excited about your new systems! This is an important area, and it’s not going away. Don’t look back! DO NOT spend time cleaning up emails and files from the past. It is a colossal waste of time. Unlike the need to track down every last dust bunny in a dirty home…it’s OK to leave previous digital messes behind. They can be cleaned up later, if at all, if you must! What’s paramount in tech organization is getting your new systems up and running! Consistently! ASAP! Having the important stuff front and center! While the old messes just fall away, fade away, out of your way. If you need assistance with this, I am here to help you! 3. Edit Personal Spaces: After swapping out seasonal habits and a little enhancement to digital organization, a natural progression will be to identify the personal spaces (office, home, car) in need of attention and care. My advice, start with the places that are truly bothering you the most. The places that cause you angst when you look at them, pass them by, simply think of them: the messy drawer, the chaotic closet, the shelf of misfits, the center console of the car, the under sink cabinet, the pile of books next to the bed, the stack of paperwork by the computer, the dining room table! Whatever spaces cause you pain, start THERE! Promise yourself not to over commit to reorganizing the ENTIRE office, closet, kitchen, garage, basement or shed! That’s not what we’re doing right now. Only focus on the spaces that are driving you CRAZY! Once you tackle a few of these, you’ll be on your way to that magical place of accomplishment and freedom. Ready to move on to the next place! Better and better, more efficient as you go! Before you know it, life will feel more orderly, and you will be able to enjoy what really matters. Mark my words! So rather than feel obligated, forced, pressured into traditional “spring cleaning”, consider the current reminders as promptings to do yourself this favor, embrace the season this way! With a calmer, more focused approach. Where you cleanse your SELF of tired winter habits, employ new digital organization ideas GOING FORWARD, and confront personal spaces, one little annoying area at a time. Challenge yourself to try it this way! See if spring cleaning can take on a whole new life for you. Exhilarating, rather than exhausting. A true cleansing and revival achieved through smaller, more thoughtful actions. Generating positive momentum, for a smoother seasonal transition and life!. Who doesn’t want that? Such a beautiful thought! For a beautiful time…why not enjoy it? Best of luck with this! |