The Perfect Time to Clean

By Erin Massey, LCSW

Spring is upon us! What a great time to “refresh” our mind, body and soul, as nature is starting to refresh as well. Spring is a good reminder for us to take inventory of things around the home that have been waiting to be done since spring is upon us. Time to declutter your home and freshen up your space! Though this can be a daunting task, have you ever considered working on “spring cleaning” for yourself mentally? The idea of spring cleaning your mind has the same concept as spring cleaning your home: decluttering the items that are holding you back, exploring your values, and following through with regular self- care. There are different strategies to consider when trying to “spring clean” for your mental wellbeing. Below are a few self-care ideas that could be used to improve your overall health.
Sleep needs to be a priority to help our overall wellbeing; not only physically but mentally as well. Seven to nine hours of sleep is considered the recommended amount of sleep needed. Not only does sleep have numerous benefits to physical health needs, but it is also imperative for cognitive functioning and having good mental health. Meditation can also be helpful in reducing stress and feeling more in balance.
Exposure to sunlight is important for our bodies for multiple reasons, but the main one I will focus on is the production of serotonin which is the neurotransmitter linked to positive feelings. If it isn’t possible for you to get exposure to the sun, or you just want to minimize sun exposure, you can invest in a “happy light” if you need to stay out of the sun or would prefer this type of light therapy.
It is important to review priorities and revisit personal values that we have to refresh ourselves as well. A few ideas to help in doing this would be to spend time journaling or just making a list of items you may have on your mind to help increase your own mental space and help you to be more organized. Also reviewing the things that you have accomplished so far this year, as well as the things that you hope to accomplish in the future can help us with restructuring our routines to stay on track with our goals.
With all this being said, I hope that spring brings the “renewal” that you need or that fits you the best!