9 Things to do to Spring Clean your Life this Spring

I am always thrilled when the snow melts and I see signs of Spring. It’s time finally to come out of ‘hibernation’ and finally, I feel lighter and brighter. And it is through this burst of energy that I know it’s time to spring clean not just my house but my whole life.

So I am ready to look around and sort things out.

Do you ever feel that way? I am a Spring Summer kind of girl. Winter is just not my season.

And spring simply renews my energy and gives me a better outlook. I also think that this is just the best time in the spirit of renewal to reassess many areas in our lives and make them better.

It’s time for a new beginning.

Don’t you just love new beginnings?

Spring is a new chance to start over and refresh. Think about all the things you can change this spring. What areas in your life do you want or need to spring clean?

How to Spring Clean your life

So you may wonder when you need to spring clean your life, where do you start?

You can start by literary cleaning the house from top to bottom.

Get to the nitty-gritty of physical cleaning. Sort out what to keep and what you REALLY DONT NEED ANY MORE. AND TRUST ME THERE ARE THINGS YOU DON’T NEED.

I bet by now you may have heard of the world-renowned book and TV series The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.

There is real magic in letting go of things physical and otherwise that we may hold on to.

Holding on to too much stuff holds us back.

Keeps us from progressing and moving on and being the best people we can be. So donate those excess clothing and gadgets and toys. Let go of hurt feelings.

Forgive people. Move on and grow.

And if you would like to check The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, you can get a copy here. And there is also a gratitude journal, Life-Changing Magic: A Journal – Spark Joy Every Day (The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up).

Gratitude also goes a long way in changing your perspective for the better and truly sparking joy. Try it.

Deep cleaning your house is a great way to bring the freshness of spring inside.

Sometimes though, there is a lot that needs a spring cleaning.

At times a complete overhaul of the way we do things day to today, you know, our general mode of going about life may need At times a complete overhaul of the way we do things day to today, you know, our general mode of going about life may need

What in the world am I talking about?

I am talking about spring cleaning your life.

A great way to look at those things that hold us back.

Examine them and find some strength to change for the better.

Toss out the old and bring in the new.

Stop for a minute and go way back to three months ago when you celebrated new years day and you swore this year you are going to do certain things towards a better and improved you. Remember that?

If those goals have fallen by the wayside, now is a good time to revisit that list toward the future amazing you.

So, what are the things that are holding you back from achieving those amazing lofty goals you made on New Year’s Day?

I can guess a few. Maybe you have encountered some of the following enemies to self-actualization.

Let us look at the various ways you can spring clean your life this spring.

Is any of the following holding you back?

Spring clean the following areas and you will be an awesome go-getter mama you have always known you can be.

Procrastination

I know! I am the queen of procrastination. It was especially bad when I was in school.

I stayed up way late many a night trying to complete assignments. And I am still procrastinating on many a life’s homework.

But procrastination can have a hold on your life and mess many things up including your finances.

And now you know you don’t want to mess up there. Bills need to be paid on time otherwise those late fees will get you and suck the money out of you. You need to keep your hard-earned money.

There are many reasons that people procrastinate; Sometimes the job ahead is difficult, or sometimes they just want to hold on to that money a little longer, or are just not feeling the thing that needs the doing, or the task is unpleasant, scary, or really involved.

But if something needs to be done, delaying does not make it go away.

So go on and face the task, you will feel so much better when it’s done. To avoid procrastination you can do several things.

For one, you can write up a list of the most important tasks with daily, weekly, and monthly goals, and stick to them.

And you can use a great tool such as a motivating planner to organize your to-dos, such a this planner

A pretty planner will motivate you to plan and do those big things in your life.

Every day, tackle the most difficult task first.

Or as they say, eat your frog. Yes, the analogy is compelling, I think.

What task have you been avoiding? It is likely something big that can move you forward to achieving your goals, or something that needs to be done so you can clear brain space for better things.

I know when I am avoiding paying a particular bill, for example, it nags my mind and I keep thinking about it. That is wasted brain space I can use for better things.

This makes you feel much lighter and at ease and makes it easier to face the rest of the day without the thought of a big job that needs to be done weighing you down.

When that major task is done you will feel accomplished and maybe even enthused to do more, achieve more.

So go ahead and face that frog, look it in the eye, or not, and… okay, do the hard thing first, and from there you will be unstoppable.

Exercise

You were going to start exercising and be trim by Summer. That was your new year’s goal.

Now three-four months later you haven’t been to the gym or taken a brisk walk outside, or been on your bike (guilty as charged).

Okay, my friend, take this as another chance, start over, and do better.

Exercise daily.

Exercise is a way to declutter your mind of stress, and ultimately your body, of the extra junk in various places. Most of us can use some dejunking, I think.

And there are so many ways to exercise. Yes, my friend one program does not fit all.

You can watch an exercise video on YouTube or on-demand, or if you like the gym, go for it.

You will feel so much better if you commit to an exercise routine. It will change not only your body but also how you feel overall.

You will have more energy to be that go-getter mama.

Get away from the screens

Of course, after you read this post.

My, the world has really changed. I must be the only person who has not read a book on kindle. (No, I am not holier than thou. I confess I have too much screen time.).

I probably will read a kindle book, but I am currently struggling with that. I love how books look, feel, smell as in real paper books.

Anyhow, we are surrounded by way too many screens all day and sometimes all night. Who likes to watch TV as they sleep? Scroll social media in bed before going to sleep?

Well, I urge you to reconsider. The blue light so emitted mimics daylight usurping your melatonin production and keeping you awake way longer, thereby not getting enough sleep.

And those cell phones. So addictive and hard to put down even as you lay in bed trying to go to sleep.

That blue light from gadgets interferes with your sleep. So, turn gadgets off and keep them away from the bed.

Trust me, you will sleep much better and wake up refreshed and be that mama boss you have always dreamed of.

And vowing to have a better sleep routine and following through, will have you thriving. Here is more information on why sleep is crucial for your health.

Socialize

Yes. With People.No, not on social media! Go and be with real people in the real world. Do things with friends and family.

I understand if you are an introvert but even you need people. I know sometimes animals are way better.

And your dog loves you unconditionally. And people, well, they are so imperfect.

But we all need friends. So a close circle of one to three friends is good. I know sometimes we may need help in this area of making friends.

But you can do it.

Go to the park, talk to real people in a real way face to face. This does good things for your mental health.

Of course, it has to be people you love and who do not stress you out. Seek out those friends whom it feels effortless to talk to and who make you laugh.

I have several such friends and I appreciate every moment I am in their company.

This spring, spring forth into a new beginning. Socialize more, for real, in person, not via a screen, no, the old-fashioned -get-together is good for you.

Minimize caffeine, and alcohol intake and stop smoking

Caffeine has its benefits. That wonderful pick-me-up in the morning that keeps us from glaring at people all day long is a must-have. But don’t chug cup upon cup all day long.

You not only end up crashing later, but your sleep suffers. For those who have to work the night shift like I do this can be difficult, but try other ways to keep your energy up.

Have instead a healthy breakfast that will keep your energy and lay off the caffeine pick-up approach and you will have much more energy.

If you really are in need of energy and focus boost you can try this coffee alternative

Try some herbal tea instead. I really like the red Rooibos tea, and constant comment decaf for later in the day- another favorite of mine. It has nice hints of orange and spice and is very invigorating. There are very many teas to choose from. I love this energizing black tea from The Art of Tea.

There are also many wonderful and non-caffeinated teas to give you a bit of zen especially later in the day. This velvet tee is wonderful for just such a time and purpose.

And tea, even with caffeine does not have as much caffeine as coffee. The lovely thing about tea is that its good for you and there is a lot of varieties.

You can drink tea to help you relax, such as chamomile and lavender tea. Or teas that energize you such as orange tea, lemon tea, or even teas with cinnamon. So yea, lots of variety.

Alcohol can wreak havoc in one’s life if overdone. We all know that. So, keep to that one glass of wine that is touted as good for health.

More than that, you get that horrendous hangover.

Besides, alcohol can leave you malnourished for instance with magnesium and thiamin deficiency on top of ruining your ability to be a go-getter goal-oriented kind of girl.

Kick The cigarette habit

Now, those cigarettes, are quite a health problem. Consider spring cleaning your lungs. Yea! How about that? This indeed will spring clean your whole health.

Give yourself the gift of healthy lungs this Spring.

Don’t kid yourself with electronic cigarettes. And no one really knows much about those electronic ones. Does anyone have supportive research on them? They still have nicotine. Don’t they?

I have seen it firsthand- the amazing transformation when one stops smoking.

A patient comes to the hospital and is admitted, and since they can’t smoke, you eventually see their skin start to clear and smooth out. And they have this new healthy glow to their skin.

Yes! That’s because they now have better circulation to their skin, and all over their body. Okay, now, what are you more scared of, stroke or lung cancer, to name just a few?

Stopping smoking, and avoiding excess alcohol intake and caffeine should be on your list of spring cleaning duties for your life this spring.

And come summer you can flaunt your gorgeous, bright, healthy skin and body.

Declutter your home

We looove stuff. Yes, and I love shopping for stuff. Which girl doesn’t? But you find things start accumulating. Your stuff, kids’ stuff, spouses stuff. Stuff everywhere. Give things away if you’re not using them.

All that stuff can cloud your mind and make it hard to relax. How can you relax if you have to jump over stuff in your living room?

Empty those bins full of stuff. I have noticed that buying more and more plastic bins does not lead to being organized, otherwise I would be the queen of organization.

But I am going to empty those bins as I am telling you to do and give away those clothes that I am holding on to.

Having a spacious organized home eases the mind. Try it. Every time I take some stuff to goodwill I feel lighter, literary!

I feel calm and relaxed and able to focus when I don’t have physical clutter all around me. This is where the actual spring cleaning needs to happen. This can help you achieve more of your other goals.

Less clutter in the house, less clutter in the brain.

Have Gratitude

There is always someone worse off. Take time to be thankful for what you have. It may be as simple as clean water to drink. Food on the table. Healthy children, your own health.

There are many things to be grateful for. You just start looking around your life and not taking anything for granted, and you will be amazed at how blessed you really are.

Right now I am especially grateful that the sun is shining and I am here to enjoy it. And I am so grateful that I have three beautiful healthy children.

So to get you started, here are some gratitude journals that can get you started on the daily habit of counting your blessings.

Being grateful brings joy and a sense of peace. Yes, there may be many things wrong but find one or two things that you can be thankful for. Everyday.

As part of my spring cleaning, I will start noticing more positive things in my life to be thankful for.

Let’s look for those blessings that we surely have. If we just stopped long enough to notice, we will truly appreciate the fullness of our lives.

Have a handle on your finances

There is a reason they say money is the root of all evil. Mismanagement here can lead to lots of problems, personal marital, and in between. I am no financial advisor though. But seek one if things are spiraling out of financial control.

I wish I had known this before. Stay away from credit cards unless you can pay in full every month.

Being in debt is anxiety-inducing so live within your means. If you already are in deep, have a plan. For example, start paying off small debts. Consolidate your credit cards. Get a second job. Spring cleaning your money will help you feel more in control of your life, and happier.

Pray.

Yes. Praying is good for you. This ties in with gratitude. Acknowledging a more powerful entity than you allow you to feel less powerless. I know that sounds contradictory.

But I believe that allowing God to take control of those big things that I feel are crushing eases my mind.

There are issues that come up; illness, money problems etcetera, that are sometimes so big that we feel powerless, defeated. We can think and turn them over and over in our heads to no good.

But simply believing that God will take care of it in due time allows peace to come in and quiet our minds. So, pray. Pray this Spring and here on out.

Allow for God to take control. Include prayer this spring and henceforth, it may lead to a much healthier self, emotionally and spiritually.

Eat Right

Okay now, I am going to say it. Put down that large bag of potato chips. Pour that soda pop into the drain. Those are just empty calories.

Did you know that you can use soda to clean rusty metal?

Yes, all that acid!

Yes, there are many things we are eating and drinking that we shouldn’t be. So much of what goes for food these days is some factory-made concoction of stuff. Not real food.

If you can afford it, eat organic. Who knew that people were going to go so far as to even alter food through genetic engineering? I don’t know about you, but that makes me uncomfortable.

I want to eat natural things the way God intended.

Many people are going around these days with many health issues that can be solved by just changing the way they eat. Start eating fresh and natural organic foods this spring.

Eat some fiber regularly and you may even lose some weight.

You literary spring clean your gut by including some roughage in your diet.

Your body is like a well-made high-tech machine and putting in the right fuel keeps it running right.

Drink enough water

Well, you must clean it with something. Drink at least 8 8 Oz of water daily. However, if you can’t stand water, you can drink tea or flavor your water. But watch for sugar and additives. And caffeine.

Your body needs water to run well even giving a boost to your metabolism.

Drinking soda is not really advised due to the high sugar content, and the phosphorous in the soda can lead to your calcium being excreted leaving you deficient.

And dehydrated. Then you may feel fatigued easily and unmotivated to do much of anything.

You do not want that. So plain good old water is best. So let’s have a do-over this Spring, and revisit those new year’s vows to improve our health.

What health goals do you have this year?

Comment below and let me know. Do you have some areas of your life you would like to spring clean?

Thrive With Janie