Spring clean. Declutter. Purge. Refresh. We hear these words often around this time of year with the arrival of warmer weather and the first quarter of the year under our belts. Articles and newsletters are flooding our inboxes with spring cleaning lists and how-to’s on all things spring, but what we don't hear as often is conversations about reflecting.
Before you declutter or purge or refresh, do you think about why an experience came into your life? The good it brought you? The memories? As Marie Kondo suggests, reflect and express gratitude for the things you let go of. This is also true for time that has passed. Reflecting gives you a moment to pause, sort through your experiences, and allow them to create meaning. These meanings become learning, which can inform future mindsets and actions.
So ask yourself, besides spring cleaning my house, where else in life is Spring Cleaning & a Refresh beneficial?
1. Your Wardrobe
With the change in weather comes a change in our closet. The puffer coat you wore all winter long and the boots with salt stains can be cleaned off, stored away, or donated if you’re ready to part ways. Don’t forget to reflect on the good times you had together. A very important step.
Are you looking to find new ways to wear some of your staple pieces? A spring closet overhaul doesn’t necessarily mean buying a new wardrobe but allows you to reinvent the clothes you already have. A wardrobe refresh such as this is accessible and sustainable (which we love).
2. Your Personal Space
The space you live in and spend most of your time in is a reflection of who you are. It affects your mood, too. This is not about cleaning or purging; it’s about looking at your surroundings and reflecting on what’s working and what’s not. Simply putting files in a cabinet versus on your desk, adding a plant in the corner of the room, or lighting a candle first thing in the morning can change the energy of your space and give you the refresh you’re looking for.
3. Your Mind
Even before the pandemic, many adults in the U.S. reported sometimes feeling too busy to enjoy life. It’s easy to get caught up with everyday tasks and responsibilities, which sometimes cram our brains with information and no room just to be. The antidote to a free mind is setting aside time to let your mind wander.
Mind-wandering lets thoughts pop up spontaneously that aren’t connected to the task at hand or your surroundings but driven by the headspace that you’re in. This simple (yet effective) low-key method is a way to refresh the “toolbox” you call your brain.
Mindfulness: Being present and exerting our ability to be mindful not only makes us happier, but it can also help us deal with pain more effectively, reduce our stress and decrease its impact on our health, and improve our ability to cope with negative emotions like fear and anger. (Halliwell, 2017).” For more reading on Mindfulness, visit here.
4. Your Soul
"Soul searching—or the idea of nourishing your soul—is an important exercise every person can and should partake in. Simply put, it’s the desire to look more deeply for meaning in your life, says Kelley Kitely, LCSW, a Chicago social worker and best-selling author of MY self: An Autobiography of Survival. “Most people engage in soul searching (or should) when life seems out of sync, or when they're in a rut, experiencing negative feelings towards their careers or relationships" she explains. But if you don’t know where to start—or exactly what to do—try following these expert-recommended tips to nourish your soul and find that deeper meaning in your everyday existence". From Ophra.com. Read the full article here
Spend some time alone.
Then, connect with new people
But, disconnect with social media
Try a new hobby
To refresh means to give new strength or energy to something, to reinvigorate it. Imagine that feeling spread throughout all areas of your life. Take the time this Spring season (and any other time you feel called to) to reflect on the past, your present, and where you can do a little refreshing for your future.
Happy Refreshing & Renewing!
For more, check out the following articles, along with tools
to help you grow!
Have you Defined Your Values? Grab our workbook to solidify what is most important to you
Have you Defined Your Mission Statement? (personal and professional?). Grab our workbook to get your missions on paper
Do You know what your North Star is and Your Big Purpose? Grab our workbook to define your vision and know YBP
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