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The Benefits of Spring Cleaning and Your Mental Health

Believe it or not, a cluttered space can lead to a cluttered mind. Spring cleaning has the potential to increase productivity, save time and improve physical and mental health.

Whether it’s at work or home, the thought of tackling unorganized spaces can be overwhelming. Thankfully, there are a variety of simple strategies to achieve the satisfaction of a neater space while improving mental, physical and emotional well-being before heading into the spring season.

Workspace

  • Desk: Schedule 15-20 minutes on the calendar each day to sort through office materials drawer by drawer. Throw away or recycle old/unnecessary items, categorize files and create a habit of placing documents in their designated location.
  • Computer: Rather than letting documents accumulate, save time and hassle by organizing folders both inside and outside of email into separate priority items, follow-up materials and important conversations or files that may need to be accessed later on.
  • Workload: Starting each morning with a prioritized to-do list establishes structure, organization and accountability throughout the work day. Syncing to-dos with a digital calendar can also be helpful in setting alerts for meetings and deadlines.

Personal Space

  • Mind: Good mental health gears motivation, reduces stress and increases productivity. There are a variety of ways to relax mentally, depending on personal preference. Some ideas include calling or talking to a friend, exercising, journaling or listening to music.
  • Body: There are a wide variety of fruits and vegetables available in spring that are great for cleansing the body. Apples, beets, berries, cruciferous vegetables and leafy greens are just a few examples of detoxifying foods.
  • Spirit: Cleanse the spirit by taking time for personal care and positive thinking. Try new hobbies, spend time with loved ones and write down or talk about aspirations. Self-care is not only a catalyst for self-improvement, but increases the likelihood of achieving present and future goals.

Home Space

  • Car: An organized vehicle is beneficial beyond the spring season and helps to preserve a vehicle’s value.
  • Kitchen: Rather than dedicating an entire day to the job, make a week-long agenda that demands less than an hour each day.
  • Bedrooms: Make time to donate clothes, gather garage sale items, organize closet and drawer space, store out-of-season items and deep clean underneath bedroom furniture.

Photo Credit: Jason Lander.

A Healthier Michigan
Author: A Healthier Michigan

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