Spring clean your body, mind and soul
Spring is here! Animals wake up from hibernation, birds return to their homes, flowers start to blossom, green leaves appear on trees and bushes and the days become longer, warmer and brighter. As we come to witness the rebirth of nature, our bodies too wake up from winter sleep and get ready for summertime. As soon as there’s more sunlight, we get an energy boost and once again feel motivated to make changes in our lives.
You might have already planned your big spring clean, or perhaps you’re still dreading it. Even for the most experienced, this is a major project. So, before you use up all your energy scrubbing the oven and cleaning the windows, make sure you check out my top tips on how to cleanse your mind, body and soul.
Start with your home
Deep cleaning won’t make much of a difference if your space is full of clutter, so, first of all, commit to tidying up. There’s never a good time to organise your shed or boxes under the bed, so commit to doing it as a part of your spring cleaning. In fact, before you get on with the scrubbing, start organising your space, so you don’t get distracted by cleaning the windows or a freezer.
If you’re a bit lost and unsure where to start, one of our favourite organising methods is KonMari. It encourages tidying by category – not by location – beginning with clothes, then moving on to books, papers, miscellaneous items, and, finally, sentimental items. Although it is a daunting and time-consuming process, the results will be stunning. If you think that nobody has as much clutter as you do, check out the Netflix series on the KonMari method. On the show it can take some people months to clear up due to the quantity of their mess - don’t make the same mistake! Once your space is freed from the jumble, you’ll most likely find your mind is clearer and there’s more room for creativity. After tidying up your house, deep cleaning will seem like a piece of cake. To make it even more pleasant, use ecological products with lovely fragrances that will motivate you to clean thoroughly.
Spring clean your finances
Spring is the ideal time to declutter and refresh your finances, in the same way you organise your house and your belongings. You don’t need to be an expert to carry out a basic annual summary, helping you make better financial decisions for the year ahead. Simply start by calculating all your income, including child benefits, pensions etc. Then move onto calculating your expenditure including rent, bills, direct debits, loans and subscriptions. Keep track of these figures, so you can easily compare them year by year. Once you know your total income and expenses, estimate your budget and rethink how much you might be able to save each month. Don’t forget to check your pension contributions and think about whether or not you could be putting aside a little bit more. It’s important to commit to saving each month and to set yourself a realistic goal. If you don’t like your numbers and the task sounds boring, ask for help from a financially-savvy friend. Commit to completing the task, as it will allow you to stay on top of your finances and be in control of your money this year.
Revisit your New Year’s resolutions
Do you still remember yours or are they a long-forgotten memory? Approximately 80% of resolutions fail by the second week of February. Why not take a look at your goals again and see which ones were perhaps a bit too ambitious or unrealistic. It’s easy to get carried away and want to turn your life upside down in January, so now’s a good time to reassess the situation and bring yourself back on track. We suggest that you keep track of your progress each month, so you can make tweaks as you go and keep yourself accountable. There’s no better time to start fresh than in spring!
Embark on a mindfulness practice
If starting a mindfulness or meditation practice has been on your radar, it’s a perfect time to get on with it now. Longer days make us more energised and motivated to try new things, so use this opportunity to welcome your mindfulness practice. If you’re busy and can’t attend a mindfulness course or a retreat, you can still do it in the comfort of your own home. As meditation continues to grow in popularity, we are spoilt for choice for free meditation apps. Our favourite ones are Insight Timer, Headspace and Calm. They all have free versions with plenty of guided meditations suitable for complete beginners, as well as more advanced practitioners. Set yourself a realistic daily goal and get on the journey!
Freeing your house from clutter also presents an opportunity to create your sacred space where you can meditate, rest and relax. Being able to switch off at home relieves some of the need to spend money to find peace. Arguably, one of the easiest and quickest ways to create your calm is by switching off your phone and unplugging for a little bit.When you suddenly have no phone on you, you will find that there is enough time to take a few deep breaths, read a paragraph of your favourite book and be present.
Put yourself first
Above all, make sure you put yourself first. Prioritise self-care, especially at busy times when life is a bit too much. With spring on the horizon, our social life awakens, and the best way to enjoy all these fun things is by being on top form. By looking after yourself, you’re not only improving your wellbeing, but also the relationships with your loved ones. As a result, you might find yourself more patient, loving and caring, which is always a great bonus for those around you.
Why not join me for an energising mini retreat to dust off the cobwebs from winter hibernation, and celebrate the arrival of spring? More details: . Mini-retreat — Yoga with Adeline
