A Different Type of spring cleaning….

I was all set to do my usual spring clean-up, l had my list of what to keep and what to throw out…. but everything came to a scratching stop with this unprecedented CO-19 virus and its global effects on our citizens not only physically, but also mental pressures. I stopped for a time being and all kinds of thoughts have been running through my mind, but l stopped for a minute and convinced myself that l need to keep moving forward with my spring clean-up.

We all need to be pro active about not being in crowds and follow the recommended procedures to keep us all safe, but we need to move on with our lives and one of these special things is spring clean-up. Or at least change the narrative of what’s been going on and focus on something that is different and takes us away from the negative media reporting.

Here are some of my recommendations on a spring clean up of sorts and how to organize it for yourself and your loved ones. As the old phrase goes, everything starts at home and not much is different when it comes to spring clean-up. Whether you live by yourself or with others, its important to have everyone on the same page on the same schedule. Approaching your house room-by-room is the most effective way to deep-clean your home at any time of the year, but especially in spring. Use room checklists as a springboard for deep cleaning the areas of your home that need extra attention. Feel free to skip items that have recently been cleaned and focus on the parts of your home that have been neglected all winter long.

One of the biggest parts of spring cleaning is getting rid of clutter that you don’t need. Now is a good time to take advantage of the natural spring urge to get rid of items that are weighing you down and being fresh with a more streamlined lifestyle. A systematic four step approach to identifying problems, analyzing reasons, determining solutions and implementing remedies can be extremely productive at this time of year. What l usually do is sort my belongings into four categories – trash, give-away, store, or putting things away – this can also be effective as you begin the spring-cleaning process. I usually plan a garage sale or plan to donate items to good causes.

Now that most of my kids are home, l have told them that they need to get involved with a plan moving forward. Even the most unwilling helper can make a big difference in the workload. There are ways to deal with this process, even the most reluctant can be helpful. This is a great time of the year to get the entire family to work together. Try throwing on some music or establishing a family reward as an incentive to get the work done. Cash always works the best.

Some chores need to be done seasonally. We ignore them for most of the fall and winter, but now it is time to bite the bullet and get these things clean. Even though these chores only need to be done once or twice a year, they will help your home run look better and run smoothly.

Co-19 has also forced us to disinfect, clean and get rid of stuff we don’t need –  will this force us to change our habits around disinfecting areas that we work and play? This is the new future to stay safe. Establishing new cleaning habits should be part of our everyday routine.

Spring is also a time to reflect and do some physiological clean up. You may ask what am l talking about. Well, in many cases we are so busy with our everyday lives and duties that we tend to forget about our mental state and how we can keep it sharp and focused.

Exercise is good for your body and mind. Moving around and doing some physical activity also will help in dealing with depression, anxiety, stress and more. This coronavirus has put much uncertainty in the world at the moment, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by fear and anxiety.

But there are plenty of things you can do to get through this difficult time without panicking.

Studies have shown that exercise can treat mild to moderate depression as effectively as antidepressant medication and without side-effects. Exercise is a powerful depression fighter for several reasons. Most importantly, it promotes all kinds of changes in the brain, including neural growth, reduced inflammation and new activity patterns that promote feeling of calm and well-being. It also releases endorphins, powerful chemicals in your brain that energizes your spirits and make you feel good. Exercise can also serve as a distraction, allowing you to find some quiet time to break out of the cycle of negative thoughts that feed depression.

The one most powerful tool that l would highly recommend is meditation and the exercise of the brain that puts you in a total state of mind that will help you function with daily events, especially these days in this time of unchartered waters.

Meditation establishes a secure connection between our internal and external worlds. It awakens the body and benefits all aspects of the conscious and subconscious layers of the mind. Meditation enhances our empathy and improves cognitive senses in our persona, which enables us to perform on a daily basis in a much calmer and clearer frame of mind.

This spring clean-up is not your normal time, but it needs to be done and you should consider doing something with an emphasis on the mental aspect of a clean-up or a refresh. Staying in tune with your mind and body this spring can set your compass on moving forward for the balance of the year.

Have a powerful day.