Spring officially kicks off this weekend and I can’t wait. Usually it’s my least favorite season, but this year I’m just so excited for longer days and warmer weather that I’m willing to forget about the rain and my allergies! I’ve got the shorts and cute shoes all ready and waiting for the weather to clear 70. C’mon, Chicago, you can do it! Maybe even a sunny 65? Please?
Anyway, obviously spring is the time of the year when everyone busts out the brooms and gets a-cleaning. Ideally, I’d love to take a whole weekend and get all the junk cleared out of my place, but I also have a full-time job and I have to split my weekends between chores and errands and having a social life so that’s probably not going to happen. Also I’m still not really sure what to do with the trash at my new apartment so I’ve just been subtly throwing it into this sketchy dumpster around the corner but I probably wouldn’t get away with throwing out like 10 bags of junk at once so?? Anyway, less about me being a trashlord and more about spring!!
If you want to get into a springtime state of mind but only have about an evening or less in which to do it, here are 5 fast ways to detox your life for spring!
1. Clear a (small) space for yourself
I know, I know, I was just like “who has time for cleaning?” and now I’m telling you to clean. But don’t get out the pitchforks just yet – I don’t mean you have to clean the whole house in one night. If you could, that’s obviously best, but if you only have a half hour or so then just clear the space that you spend the most time in. For me that’s my bedroom, so it’s looking pretty clean right now even though my living room is still a mess. It’s great to tackle all of the cleaning eventually, but you’ll be way more relaxed and ready to deal with your life if you have a safe, clean space to be in when you’re at home. I’ve been reading Dana Claudat’s blog posts about how clutter interferes with just about every aspect of your life and she is SO right – clutter stresses me out even when I’m not at home, because instead of looking forward to coming home and relaxing I’m dreading coming home to dirty dishes and mostly-unpacked boxes. I took some time this week to unpack all the boxes from my bedroom and move everything else out of here, so now I can deal with the mess on my time and not have to look at it and stress about it when I’m doing other things, like working or blogging!
2. Clear the mental clutter
Next step is to get rid of the stuff that’s cluttering up your brain! Get out a notebook and a pen for this, because we are going to write stuff down. We’re writing down everything that’s on weighing heavy on our minds right now – things we’re worried about, things we’re dreading, things from five years ago that still keep us awake at night, things we’re hurt about or annoyed about and we can’t stop thinking about long enough to go to sleep at night. That sort of stuff. It doesn’t have to be any particular format, just write what you feel. Getting it out on paper means you don’t have to struggle to keep it all straight in our heads. Once you’ve got a solid list of all the crap that’s weighing you down, it’s time to organize it into two new lists: a “things I can do something about” list and a “things I can’t” list. The “things I can do something about” list is now your to-do list. Congrats! You know what needs to be done and you can start doing it so you can stop worrying about it. The “things I can’t” list might be things like pain from past relationships, worrying about getting test results back, things like that. There’s nothing much you can do about these things, but it’s good to have them all in once place anyway (and you can now worry about them safely without the additional pressure of the worries you’re currently trying to do something about.)
3. Cook some veggies
I don’t mean this in an eat-healthy sort of way (although that’s always good to!) While spring is a perfect time for a diet detox if you want to go that route, what I mean by this is to spend some time preparing some seasonal vegetables and practicing mindfulness as you do so. Really focus on the flavors of the season, the colors of the veggies, the way everything comes together to form a meal. Be in the moment – no distractions from the TV or your computer, just you (and maybe a friend or loved one) cookin’ things up. It’s a simple little way to appreciate spring and what nature does for us while getting some vitamins in, too!
4. Set some goals
Spring is the season of new beginnings and fresh starts. It’s a great time to sit down and evaluate what’s working and not working in your life right now. Where are you and where do you want to be? What ideas slowly bloomed within you during winter that you want to bring to life? It can be something as major as realizing you want a new career or as minor as deciding you’d like to take a painting class. Take some time and write down what you want, and then plan out some steps you can start taking to get there! I always feel a surge in motivation this time of year because the days are longer and I don’t feel like it’s bedtime at 4 pm anymore, so harness that new energy and use it to make stuff happen.
5. Get outside
I really feel like outdoor walks are the miracle cure for all kinds of things. Feeling bummed? Go outside! Need some time to think? Go outside! For one thing, it’s a great way to get in touch with nature and take in the warming weather. For another, though, getting outside and breathing in the fresh air really makes you feel clearer and more focused. There are tons of studies on the benefits of taking a short walk outside that I’m too lazy to research, but sometimes all it takes to revitalize and rejuvenate you is a little exposure to Mother Nature. I’d encourage you to find an outdoor space like a park or a forest preserve that you really connect with, and go there whenever you need to clear your head! Having a literal “happy place” can be all it takes to make life a little less overwhelming.
So that’s what I’ve been doing to get ready for spring! And if you’re in the southern hemisphere and it’s time for fall, honestly all of these things still apply. It’s probably a good idea to do some kind of clearing-of-the-junk every time the seasons change – it’s a good transition period!
How do you prepare for the new season? Any rituals or traditions that you do?
