APRIL 2024
Spring Clean Your Mind & Declutter Your Life
By Lori Scott, E-RYT 500
The sun is emerging, the birds are singing, the earth is blooming and just like that, our world presents a beautiful fresh new start to begin again.
This rejuvenation is often commemorated by the act of spring cleaning and decluttering. Why? Because your body receives nature’s messages of rebirth and also wants to release stored heaviness from the winter and explore new things. We have an internal garden of renewal and enthusiasm for a fresh new start to begin again. Spring cleaning isn’t just for your closets, your mind and body crave a refresh and decluttering too!
Clutter is defined as a collection of things in an untidy state, especially things that are not useful or necessary. Eventually, clutter in your environment bombards your mind with excessive visual stimuli, causing your senses to work overtime on things that aren't necessary or important. It may be easy to identify the clutter in your environment or EXTERNAL world because you can see it. In which case, some spring cleaning and purging of unwanted items can feel so freeing to your senses.
On the other hand, the clutter in your INTERNAL world isn’t so easy to recognize. This could mean too many unnecessary meetings, commitments, thoughts, people, relationships, etc. When our internal world becomes cluttered, we become emotionally weighed down and overwhelmed. Releasing some of these burdens means setting boundaries which can be much harder than cleaning out your closet.
To fully welcome the airiness of spring, you might consider letting go of some things from your external and internal world that you may have outgrown. Here are some ways you can welcome this new season of awakening and hit the refresh button.
Simplify and Connect. To truly connect, we must disconnect. Take a break from talking, working, reading/watching the news, social media, any number of things that occupy your awareness. Then, get outside in the fresh air, in the breeze. Really breathe it in. Reconnect with nature’s messages to begin again and allow this simplicity to nourish you. Quiet time in nature can help put things into perspective and help you see what truly matters most in your life.
Let the Light IN. Open the shades and windows in your home to circulate fresh air and let the sunshine in. You might consider moving furniture in your environment so your space doesn’t feel stagnant. Find spaciousness so you can have some breathing room. Then, pick a small section of your space to organize each week this month. Studies show that living in a clutter-free space can help you be more calm and productive. Letting go of one thing allows space for something else to come in so keep the windows and doors open to all possibilities!
Practice Meditating. Our minds need cleansing just like we need showering and washing clothes. While we wouldn’t consider eating dinner on yesterday’s dirty dishes, we think nothing of tackling today’s problems with yesterday’s cluttered mind. Sit in a relaxed position for 5 minutes and take a few deep breaths. This quiet time helps the cluttered mind transform thoughts into a clear, positive, creative, more productive mindset.
Start Journaling. Writing in a journal can be a form of relaxing your mind and organizing your thoughts. It can help manage stress by expressing and releasing bottled-up emotions. Try writing down all of the things you are worried about, ripping it up and throwing it away. This can be a great way to tackle and release the clutter in your mind.
Take Stock. You may be familiar with The KonMari Method™ which encourages tidying around your home by category – with clothes, books and sentimental items. The idea is to keep only the things that speak to your heart, and discard items that no longer spark joy. What if we used this same mindset with all categories in our lives, not just with ‘things’? Consider asking yourself these questions and write them in your journal: Does my home speak to my heart and spark joy? Do my daily activities speak to my heart and spark joy? Does my work speak to my heart and spark joy? Do the things I read or watch speak to my heart and spark joy? Do my relationships speak to my heart and spark joy? Notice who is walking your path with you and weed out the relationships you have outgrown. Surround yourself with people and activities that encourage your growth and happiness.
Less Is More. Maybe you take this concept a step further and practice minimalism as a life philosophy. This means living a simple life with fewer but carefully selected things, committing to fewer commitments and owning less rather than decluttering more often.
Have Some Fun. Take time to unwind, recharge and have fun! Distractions like phones, laptops, emails, texting and social media clutter the mind. Give your brain a break from processing information, try something different, be creative and bloom!
Take this time to look at how each activity and each part of your life makes you feel. Then, start clearing out the stagnant energy so you have more space for the things that bring you joy. Author Gary Zukav says, "The spring wakes us, nurtures us and revitalizes us. How often does your spring come? If you are a prisoner of the calendar, it comes once a year. If you are creating authentic power, it comes frequently".
Can you imagine a life where you could feel a spring awakening all year long? Now, there’s a thought!
The Quincy Sun, April 2024
This rejuvenation is often commemorated by the act of spring cleaning and decluttering. Why? Because your body receives nature’s messages of rebirth and also wants to release stored heaviness from the winter and explore new things. We have an internal garden of renewal and enthusiasm for a fresh new start to begin again. Spring cleaning isn’t just for your closets, your mind and body crave a refresh and decluttering too!
Clutter is defined as a collection of things in an untidy state, especially things that are not useful or necessary. Eventually, clutter in your environment bombards your mind with excessive visual stimuli, causing your senses to work overtime on things that aren't necessary or important. It may be easy to identify the clutter in your environment or EXTERNAL world because you can see it. In which case, some spring cleaning and purging of unwanted items can feel so freeing to your senses.
On the other hand, the clutter in your INTERNAL world isn’t so easy to recognize. This could mean too many unnecessary meetings, commitments, thoughts, people, relationships, etc. When our internal world becomes cluttered, we become emotionally weighed down and overwhelmed. Releasing some of these burdens means setting boundaries which can be much harder than cleaning out your closet.
To fully welcome the airiness of spring, you might consider letting go of some things from your external and internal world that you may have outgrown. Here are some ways you can welcome this new season of awakening and hit the refresh button.
Simplify and Connect. To truly connect, we must disconnect. Take a break from talking, working, reading/watching the news, social media, any number of things that occupy your awareness. Then, get outside in the fresh air, in the breeze. Really breathe it in. Reconnect with nature’s messages to begin again and allow this simplicity to nourish you. Quiet time in nature can help put things into perspective and help you see what truly matters most in your life.
Let the Light IN. Open the shades and windows in your home to circulate fresh air and let the sunshine in. You might consider moving furniture in your environment so your space doesn’t feel stagnant. Find spaciousness so you can have some breathing room. Then, pick a small section of your space to organize each week this month. Studies show that living in a clutter-free space can help you be more calm and productive. Letting go of one thing allows space for something else to come in so keep the windows and doors open to all possibilities!
Practice Meditating. Our minds need cleansing just like we need showering and washing clothes. While we wouldn’t consider eating dinner on yesterday’s dirty dishes, we think nothing of tackling today’s problems with yesterday’s cluttered mind. Sit in a relaxed position for 5 minutes and take a few deep breaths. This quiet time helps the cluttered mind transform thoughts into a clear, positive, creative, more productive mindset.
Start Journaling. Writing in a journal can be a form of relaxing your mind and organizing your thoughts. It can help manage stress by expressing and releasing bottled-up emotions. Try writing down all of the things you are worried about, ripping it up and throwing it away. This can be a great way to tackle and release the clutter in your mind.
Take Stock. You may be familiar with The KonMari Method™ which encourages tidying around your home by category – with clothes, books and sentimental items. The idea is to keep only the things that speak to your heart, and discard items that no longer spark joy. What if we used this same mindset with all categories in our lives, not just with ‘things’? Consider asking yourself these questions and write them in your journal: Does my home speak to my heart and spark joy? Do my daily activities speak to my heart and spark joy? Does my work speak to my heart and spark joy? Do the things I read or watch speak to my heart and spark joy? Do my relationships speak to my heart and spark joy? Notice who is walking your path with you and weed out the relationships you have outgrown. Surround yourself with people and activities that encourage your growth and happiness.
Less Is More. Maybe you take this concept a step further and practice minimalism as a life philosophy. This means living a simple life with fewer but carefully selected things, committing to fewer commitments and owning less rather than decluttering more often.
Have Some Fun. Take time to unwind, recharge and have fun! Distractions like phones, laptops, emails, texting and social media clutter the mind. Give your brain a break from processing information, try something different, be creative and bloom!
Take this time to look at how each activity and each part of your life makes you feel. Then, start clearing out the stagnant energy so you have more space for the things that bring you joy. Author Gary Zukav says, "The spring wakes us, nurtures us and revitalizes us. How often does your spring come? If you are a prisoner of the calendar, it comes once a year. If you are creating authentic power, it comes frequently".
Can you imagine a life where you could feel a spring awakening all year long? Now, there’s a thought!
The Quincy Sun, April 2024
