4 Things You Might Be Missing While Spring Cleaning…
Spring cleaning is more than just the clutter, the closets and the stuff. More than any other year, there may be a recent focus on the physical part of spring cleaning right now. Due to being at home more, there seems to be a need to declutter, purge who you used to be and get ready for the “new normal”.
However, as you’re saying goodbye to the stuff, what about working to clear space for that “new you”? Why not take this time to work on clearing out the other parts of who you were, to make room for what you want to be?
Schedule
Right now, many states are issuing stay in place orders. The number of allowed activities are few, and social distancing keeps groups apart. Essentially, we’ve been stripped down to nothing on the external schedule.
Right now is the perfect time to evaluate our commitments and what we spend our time doing. To decide what is really important to us. To be clear on what we want to put back on the agenda when the world goes to the new normal.
What are the things that you truly miss and are longing for? What are the things that you might have realized you put lots of time into that just don’t seem important or aren’t missed? Use these as your guideposts.
Old Scars
I will preface this by saying that letting go is not always easy. We make mistakes on a daily basis- some stay closer to our hearts than others. Others intentionally or unintentionally hurt us.
We carry these things for so long inside ourselves that they feel normal. The weight gets heavier. We adjust to it.
However, these things can stand in our ways while trying to reach the better version of ourselves. They act as roadblocks.
They act as signs that if we did something like that before, we’ll do it again and fail. They act as borders that “protect” us against others.
Make a list of things that you feel angry about especially after a long time. Really dive into each of them and begin to let them go.
Learn from any mistakes you made in the past. Learn the lessons, thank the lessons. Let the circumstances go. You’ll feel the almost immediate lift.
Note: some of these things will leave easily, others will take time. Keep letting it go.
Goals
April is a fantastic time to re-evaluate where you are and where you want to be at the end of the year.
Quarter goals are great because they build focus but still give time.
Get out the list of goals you made on December 31st. What still feels relevant? What feels less than exciting? What makes you want to marathon for it?
Let go of what no longer moves you. You can always change direction midstream. You are not defined by a list that a past version of yourself wrote. If it doesn’t propel you forward, just let it go.
For those that feel relevant or exciting, how can you chunk those down into 90 day goals? Does the format you chose at the beginning still fit? Tweak it until you find what works for you. Don’t be afraid to take risks and experiment with methods.
What We Consume
What we take in on a daily basis affects our thoughts. We become what we continually focus on.
Take advantage of this spring clean period to evaluate what you enjoy consuming- whether it’s tv, books, other writing or audio.
What inspires you to live your best life and really go after the things you desire? What takes you away from it? What is seen as entertainment?
If it’s not getting you closer to where you want to be, or at least bringing you a sense of joy in moments of darkness, let it go. Seriously. What you let in begins to affect your mind, actions and life.
Also, consider the effect that social media has on you. Which accounts inspire you and which bring a sense of negativity or comparison? Do a digital detox to eliminate what does not inspire you. If you need to unfollow certain accounts or just snooze them for awhile, do it.
Conclusion
Use this time to truly evaluate what you want your new normal to look like. When this period of time is over, we’re all going to be returning to a version of normal.
What is worth running back to? Was there anything that was holding you back that you were unaware of? Make decisions based on who you want to be in the now and very near future.
