4 Ways to Get Organized During Spring Cleaning

As the snow begins to thaw and the seasons change, winter gives way to one very important
occasion for many – spring cleaning. Spring cleaning isn’t only a great opportunity to spruce up
your home, but also some other areas within your life that might need decluttering. Tending to
them all at once will allow you to enjoy more free time later in the spring and summer as the
weather improves and you get busier.

Traditionally

Spring cleaning is typically associated with spending a few days once the weather turns warmer
to complete some of the bigger jobs around the house. Tasks can include decluttering different
rooms, cleaning the garage, uncovering the pool, or preparing a garden. However, there are
always ways you can level up your spring cleaning checklist to make it more efficient or more
sustainable. Consider making a schedule or chart that plans who cleans what on which days.

Remember, your spring cleaning can take as long or as short as you need it to, depending on
what works best for your family. During your spring cleaning, it might be a good time to bring in
professionals if important things in your home need fixing, like the air conditioner, your washer
and dryer, or garage doors. Another great way to improve this year’s spring cleaning would be to
donate as much as possible to a local charity instead of throwing out your unwanted items. This
way your items aren’t ending up in a landfill and someone in need will be giving them new life.

Digitally

Tidying up your digital space can be a great way to help clear your headspace. Clutter on your
phone, computer or any other device can lead to more distractions and a cluttered mind. Go
through your app usage to discover the ones you haven’t used or use most infrequently and see
if you can delete them. Consider adding your remaining apps to folders or pages where similar
apps can be housed together. If you have concerns about certain apps or certain devices,
explore the parental controls even if you’re an adult. Depending on the app or device there
could be timers where they let you know when you have reached an allotted amount of time or
even blockers that stop you from visiting a site in between certain hours.

These controls can help you reorganize your mind and limit your time on these devices. Additionally, you can clean up your social media by going through your posts and people you’re following. If you feel like they no longer represent you, go ahead and remove them. This is a great way to curate your profile to make sure the people you’re following are showing you things that make you feel good and lift you up. Finally, if you have a personal or a work computer, go through and tidy that up as well. If any documents don’t have folders or have ended up in the wrong folder, go ahead and find homes for those. Make sure any of your most important documents are backed up to the cloud or a hard drive so they’re protected should anything happen to your computer.

Financially

Another good task to take care of when the weather makes a turn for the better is to get your
finances organized. One of the ways you can do this is by preparing your taxes early during the
tax season. There are a plethora of free online services that’ll walk you through the process or
you can visit a local financial empowerment center where they’ll help you for free. Another great
way to get your finances in order is to create your spring and summer budget. If you already
created a 2022 budget, revisit it and see what is working well for you and what still needs
improving.

Usually, a budget will need some adjustments between the winter and spring
because of changing spending habits throughout the year. When making adjustments to your
budget, continue to prioritize your spending and saving goals along with the bills you must pay
like your mortgage, car payments, and student loans. From there you can adjust your priorities
with the remaining monthly money for your summer activities like concerts, outdoor dining, or
even vacations. If you’re still finding that your money is stretched too thin for your comfort, you
can look into some other ways to reduce spending. Some examples could include, refinancing
your mortgage to lock in a lower rate, or even creating a new stream of income through referral
deals.

Mentally

The winter can be long for many, especially those who are impacted by seasonal depression
disorder. So, it can be beneficial to many to reflect on the winter months and organize your
thoughts as spring comes. One of the best ways to do this is to talk to a licensed professional,
as they’re the most equipped to provide you with the tools to healthily cope with the stressors
you’re facing. If you don’t have a usual therapist, you can get referred to one by your primary
care provider or you can visit one of the many growing online services.

Even if you’re not affected by seasonal depression, the springtime can still be a good time to
revisit your mental health before the busyness of the spring and summer months. This can be
an excellent opportunity for self-care. After you’ve finished any heavy or traditional spring
cleaning jobs, consider treating yourself to an appointment that makes you feel good such as a
hair appointment or a trip to the spa. Or as a reward for everyone’s hard work throughout spring
cleaning, consider something fun for everyone who contributed, like a day trip or a hike.

If you enjoyed this, head over to my 5 Ways To Boost Your Confidence This Winter and 30 Powerful Affirmations To Boost Your Motivation