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Spring cleaning is one of those rituals that seems to be universal.
As winter ends and warmer weather appears, we have renewed energy and feel the need to refresh our space. In the past, before vacuums were invented, March was the perfect time to dust the house and clean the carpets in the fresh air. In some religions, spring cleaning rituals have a higher meaning and are part of religious practice.
So whether you are following a family tradition or feel a strong urge to open the windows
and declutter your space, here are some of the (surprising) benefits you might experience and how to get started!
Our physical space often reflects our emotional and mental state. This is not a criticism or anyone’s fault, it’s just a simple reality for many… The clutter affects our well-being, and our well-being affects our ability to deal with the clutter. Many of us feel stuck in certain aspects of our lives. It’s a normal human feeling. And yet, it’s overwhelming and depressing at times to feel like there’s no way out. When we feel this way, we tend to have less of a motivation to take care of our home and things just seem to pile up.
These feelings become even more intense in wintertime. After the rush of the holidays, when it’s cold and dark most of the time and spring is still way away, those feelings become even more intense.
Come spring, we have more energy and feel uplifted. That makes it the ideal time to tackle those projects that have been waiting for too long, and the best time to refresh our spaces.
When we declutter and move objects, the energy shifts in space. That renewed energy in our physical space, gives us the strength and the feeling of possibility and other aspects of our lives. During my time as a professional organizer, I have seen the power of decluttering, refreshing and revitalizing one’s space, it’s so powerful!!
The amazing part is that the benefits of decluttering and organizing are not JUST for our physical space. I have seen clients who finally dared to apply to the job they wanted, reach out to a long-lost friend, have a difficult (yet necessary) conversation with family members, find the courage to invite people over, or go on a first date… following their journey of decluttering.
You might ask - what do all those things have to do with decluttering??
The answer is simple. It’s not really. But…
It’s about doing something that felt impossible, it’s about finally enjoying your home and your space, it’s about being able to relax, it’s about the joy other who live with you get from having shared spaces usable again.
How do you get started?
Choose a space that would really make a difference for you if it were organized and decluttered. Don’t overthink it.
Whatever space you choose, make sure you give yourself a couple of hours (or more) so you can do it right. Decluttering is an intentional process where you need to make decisions. Once you have decluttered, the rest is maintenance.
Go through the items in that space and decide which stay and which go. Put items that belong in a different room in a bin and distribute at the end of the process.
The items that stay - put them back in their place. The items that aren’t staying are either trash, recycling or donation.
Distribute the items that go elsewhere to their new home, throw out the trash, take out the recycling and post the give-away items online, or schedule a donation pick-up!
Enjoy your work!!
Yes, it will not stay perfect forever. That’s okay. The feeling you’ll get from getting your spring cleaning on and getting your home in order will give you energy and hope. And who knows? Maybe you’ll be able to keep it up longer… or maybe even inspire others in your home to get their spaces organized!
If all of this sounds too hard right now, call a professional! After a couple of sessions,
I am confident you will feel up for the task on your own. Professional organizers are experts in decluttering and organizing. My goal is always to leave my clients feeling capable and knowledgeable, so they can continue the work on their own. I’m always so proud and happy when my clients send me photos of the work they do on their own!
Wishing you a happy and healthy spring, in your newly decluttered spaces!
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