Spring cleaning…

For some, this phrase evokes the anticipation of that pleasant feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment after a hard day’s work hitting the reset button on your home. It elicits memories of that freshly spritzed smell and deliciously organized closets which had previously been a jumbled mess for months. For others, it brings up a sense of dread and intimidation from all the tasks looming as you prepare for summer. It is easy to feel paralyzed by the laundry list of chores which have mysteriously piled up over the winter weeks.

Here are a few tips and tricks for making this year’s spring cleaning not only manageable, but even enjoyable! 

All About the Mindset

It can be easy to be consumed with the gargantuan task facing you and forget all of the benefits in observing this annual ritual. Spring cleaning is not just a duty – it actually provides enormous benefits for all who partake! Numerous scholars and lifestyle experts have pointed out that having an organized, clutter-free atmosphere promotes massive benefits for one’s own internal equilibrium. Admiral William McRaven once famously said in a speech: “If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.” Creating external order can promote healthy habits that lead to greater self-discipline and remove unnecessary stressors that fuel a cluttered mind and heart. Furthermore, small successes and accomplishments in ordering your personal life can lead to greater successes of greater importance. Marie Kondo’s Netflix show Tidying Up has become such a big hit due to its insights into the practical benefits of having a decluttered, organized space. Such small tasks can lead to great rewards as your outer world influences your inner. Thus, spring cleaning requires hard work temporarily, but will yield great rewards which you may reap for the rest of the year. 

Let’s Get Started

Find Your Rhythms

Spring cleaning will feel far less daunting if you have pre-established cleaning habits that help you stay on top of your more regular household tasks. This will free up space for you to focus on the cleaning and organization areas that really only need to be done once a year. Take a few minutes and write down all of your household chores that need to be accomplished within the year. Then, divide these into daily, weekly, monthly, and annual tasks. Having these separated and organized will help you implement rhythms so that you can be sure that you are hitting all of the major tasks while at the same time creating margin in your life to accomplish these in an orderly fashion. Pick a day of the week that you knock out your weekly tasks and a day of the month that you knock out your monthly tasks so that they fit naturally into your lifestyle and are already accounted for in your schedule. 

Make it Fun

There are so many ways to finish your cleaning quickly while also making it fun! With all of the hands-free technology available now, put on a podcast or audiobook or get lost in one of your favorite music albums. Dedicated cleaning time can be an awesome opportunity to listen to some of those things your schedule never seems to allow. 

Divide and Conquer

Although some people like to take a weekend and completely commit to finishing their house projects, it can be easier to split up your tasks into smaller projects. Divide up your cleaning needs by space (kitchen, yard, living room, bedrooms, etc.), and designate each space to a weekend for a particular month. This way, you will continually make progress while still having time to enjoy some rest and relaxation on a weekend. Start in each room by purging and decluttering superfluous items. Use the empty space to give that area a deep clean and then replace your items, organizing them by practical functionality and by aesthetic. 

Happy cleaning!