Without a doubt, we’ve all heard of spring cleaning, and have been told time and time again of its importance. Spring cleaning is for fresh starts, for new beginnings; just as the world is starting over with new growth, so are you.
For many, spring cleaning can be therapeutic. Out with the old, in with the new, right? But there’s no hard and fast rule saying that you can’t spring clean at other times of the year; in fact, I discourage a deep decluttering only once a year. To me, starting off the colder months with a good cleaning out is the perfect way to say goodbye to summer and to welcome in a brand new season.
Closing Up Shop
We spend a lot of time in our houses in the fall and winter. With the weather turning cold and the sun setting earlier, we are less inclined to go outside, to explore the world around us. Making sure your home is clean will not only be good for your health, but also your sanity. When temperatures drop, we turn on the central heating, and keep windows and doors shut. But as we go about our daily lives, we create dust, track in dirt, and create the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. With the house closed up, where does all this gross stuff go?
A scary thought.
Start your fall off right by getting into those hidden corners with a dust rag, wipe up all the pethair you can find, and change out your air duct filters. This last one is especially important if you haven’t changed them out in a while. Air duct filters make a great home for bacteria and mold buildup, and that’s certainly not something you want to be breathing in all winter. Not only is it good for your physical health to clean out all the nooks and crannies of your house, but it’s also good for your mental health. Starting the season with a clean slate can inspire mental clarity and encourage calm, as well as giving you the feeling of control over your space.
The Great Declutter
As human beings, we tend to accumulate things, and sometimes we don’t realize how much we hold on to until we take the time to let go. Shifting from summer to fall is a great time to go through your closet and get rid of the summer clothes you never wore, say goodbye to the beat up pair of shoes you’ve had forever, and make space for new things to come.
As well as creating physical space within your home (and your closet), a good declutter can also help clear up mental space. By making room in the physical, you are creating a place for your creativity to thrive, for your mind to fill in those empty areas with new, exciting possibilities. As we move into colder months, where we will be spending more time indoors and perhaps not exploring as much, one of the best ways to keep your brain active and thriving is to give it new ways to imagine. Starting over with a blank slate leaves us open to process, analyze, and understand the world around us, quite literally letting our minds run wild.
So, here’s to starting fresh! I can’t wait to do it again with you all in the spring.
