It’s Time for Spring Cleaning

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It’s Spring! Flowers are blooming, leaves are sprouting on the trees and many people will begin to tackle Spring Cleaning projects around the home and in the garden. My wife pops out of bed last week and she had the Spring Cleaning flu. She turned and looks at me and said, Let’s go to Lowe’s and get some stuff to start spring cleaning.” I was about to respond when I got the inspiration for this article. Let me ask you this, “What does Spring Cleaning mean to you?” Have you ever stopped to think that Spring is also a great time to clear the cobwebs and the dust from your mind and spirit? We often spend our lives going about performing our daily tasks, living day to day, pretty much on automatic.

STOP THAT!

Think of Spring Cleaning as an excellent time to air out your mind, look at life from a different perspective. Not sure of how to do that? Let’s take a moment and look at a few ideas to help you with Spring Cleaning your mind, your body and spirit:

1.- Learn something new.

Sign up for a class. Local colleges have great classes you can take in any number of areas. You can also look on-line for classes and webinars for enhancing your hobby or just to satisfy your curiosity in a particular area. Secret: youtube is my friend…LOL!

2.- Take a trip.

Don’t wait for summer when most people are taking their vacations. Take a spring vacation. Ski resorts are still open and Caribbean islands never close. Just be mindful of school spring break students. Incorporate learning something new such as taking a guided hike or visiting a museum. I just got back from a retreat where we took a cruise to Cozumel, Mexico. I was the featured speaker but I also used this as an opportunity to rest, relax, and recharge.

3.- Get a “new look.”

Experiment with different hairstyles or clothes that are totally different from what you would normally wear. One of my favorite stores that I frequent is Ross. You can find a lot of cool things to wear and experiment with and not spend a lot of money doing it!

4.- Use a day or two to do absolutely nothing.

Tune out – go off the grid. Let your mind wander. Meditate; get in touch with spirit. Keep a journal handy to jot down any ideas that come to mind when there are no interruptions to the day. I coach my clients to have a “ME” day. When they incorporate this into their schedule, they give me feedback that as simple as this was, it has really been refreshing to look forward to “ME” day.

5.- Give your exercise routine a tweak.

(You do have one, right?) For example, if there is no dance component to your exercise routine, add one. Can anyone say ZUMBA? Have you been eying a piece of equipment at the gym that you have never tried before? Go for it. Get the gym trainers to help you with new ideas and new equipment. AND if you do have an exercise regiment, make sure you add a cheat day/meal. You will be surprise how much you will look forward to having a day where you can “pig” out. No shade Mr. Pig!

6.- Detox!

Go meatless for a day or two if meat is always a part of your diet. Go sugarless for a day if you always have your Starbucks with creamer and sugar. Check with your healthcare provider for what detoxing would be for you.

7.- Declutter your electronic devices.

That means, clean out your emails, your pictures, etc. Create folders for the information you want to keep and dump the rest.

In short, make Spring Cleaning a yearly renewal not only for your home and garden but also for your body and spirit.

If you are having difficulty getting your Spring Cleaning started, don’t hesitate to contact me. I can help you focus and make Spring Cleaning work for you.

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Photo: Getty Images