Spring Cleaning Tips
Spring is such a great time to get life back on track. Although, it can be difficult to start this seemingly daunting task. With good planning and taking things one at a time, you may amaze yourself at how much you can improve in certain aspects of your life. Below, you will find some helpful spring cleaning tips to tidy up your home, diet, and mental health.
Your Home:
- Let in some fresh air. open windows, keep rooms well ventilated, even when using natural cleaning products.
- Decluttering and simplifying your space
- Take it one room at a time
- Clean from top to bottom. Clear off flat surfaces and put away things that don’t belong there. Throw out anything not needed and can’t be donated, and donate anything that can. Then work on drawers or shelves, then repeat the process. Finally, tidy up the floors. Finish up by wiping down any surfaces and then by cleaning the floors.
- You can store items (like food or small office supplies, washing pods, etc.) in countertop containers. This can eliminate clutter in any room, and even offer a nice look to your area, especially when you have limited storage/cabinet space.
Your Eating Habits:
- Clean out the food in your kitchen
- Throw out expired food.
- Throw out food that doesn’t align with nutrition goals (“junk” food!)
- Refill shelves with healthier food options that can be easy and quick to use for many meals.
- Carrots, cucumbers, grape tomatoes, and any fruits can be great for snacking when on-the-go. Just chop up and bag them shortly ahead of time (such as the night before) so that they’re ready to hit the road!
- Add fresh herbs and spices to meals to increase flavor and stay healthy! Some herbs can even be great with fruit and water as a substitute for sugary drinks.
- Purchase produce from local farmers. This can be helpful to the environment, support your local community, and can be great for your wallet.
Your Mental Health:
- Create a to-do list of short-term and long-term goals, then start prioritizing these goals.
- Short-term goals are typically obtained within 6 months to a year, whereas long-term goals take longer than this.
- Drop old habits. Write them down, and think about how they affect you, your mental health, and what you may face in breaking these habits.
- This may be a difficult task to process. Be sure to remind yourself that there is always a chance to become better, and that persistence will win in the long run.
- Consider the good habits that you have. What helps you in your day-to-day? Consider how you can spend more time on these things, and put them in writing as well.
- Integrate movement into your everyday routine. Stretch while waiting for something (such as in between meetings or while your coffee is brewing). Take a walk; even when the weather is not ideal. Dress accordingly and get outside! There is nothing better than getting fresh air. You can even set aside time to actively play with your kids or pets. There are so many simple ways to get your blood flowing, which can be good for your mental health.
Don't forget that getting organized and overall improvement of yourself take time. By slowly integrating good habits and clearing out the bad ones, you will start to see yourself become better as time goes on. And don't forget that a good support system (close family, spouse or friends) to hold you accountable can go a long way!
Sources:
Bennett, Cheri. “Spring Cleaning Time Is Here!” NC Cooperative Extension News, 17 Apr. 2022, richmond.ces.ncsu.edu/2022/04/spring-cleaning-time-is-here/.
Hightower, Nancy. Spring Cleaning: Declutter and Simplify, 24 Feb. 2023, www.uaex.uada.edu/life-skills-wellness/extension-homemakers/extension-homemakers-blog/posts/declutter.aspx.
Jeffersonc. “Spring Cleaning for Your Mental Health.” Jefferson Center, 30 Dec. 2022, www.jcmh.org/spring-cleaning-for-your-mental-health/.
Shifflette, Hannah. “‘Spring Cleaning’ Our Eating Habits.” Home & Garden Information Center | Clemson University, South Carolina, 20 Mar. 2023, hgic.clemson.edu/spring-cleaning-our-eating-habits/.