How to Spring clean your life in 4 stages

Do you ever get the feeling that you need to sort out your life?

Sometimes its a gradual feeling of needing a change, a clear out, a spring clean, and sometimes you just wake up one morning and think “enough is enough”.

I seem to go through this every so often and it happened to me again recently. I’d got stuck into the same daily routine and it just didn’t “fit” me anymore. It was a gradual feeling of things not being quite right and somehow I had got off track. When this happens I find that the best course of action is a Spring clean of everything in my life that isn’t positive, serves a purpose or is beautiful. Here are my four stages for a life deep cleanse:

 

Stage 1: Environment

I always start with the easiest thing to fix, my environment and this means a de-clutter. I find that sorting out my environment really helps to restore some of the inner peace. After years of being very unsuccessful at de-cluttering I’ve actually found a method that works for me (see my other blog post), and now it’s much less of a chore and more of a productive activity.

As I de-clutter I also make a less of things that need a) fixing b) changing around the house.

eg; The mirror in the hallway that you no longer like, the window sills that could do with re-painting etc..

This process can take a few days depending on how thorough you want to be. It might even end up with you deciding to redecorate or renovate. Its up to you how far you take this.

My recent environment overhaul ended up with a “fix it” list. Some of the items on there are also on the wish list, but seeing everything written down and prioritising makes me feel like I’m in control and heading in a positive direction.

 

Stage 2 : Every day routine

If you feel like you’re constantly living in groundhog day, something has to change. Take a look at your every day routine and see what works and what doesn’t work for you. Work out what the pain points are and see if you can do something to solve them.

Something as simple as making a meal plan for the week, or taking it in turns with another mum to take the children to school, or deciding to go to bed half an hour so that you don’t feel so tired all the time, could make all the difference.

Making better use of your commute is also something I’d highly recommend. Use the time to research a new hobby or learn a new skill. There’s nothing like self-development to make you feel more positive and back in control of your life.

 

Stage 3: Health and well being

If you’re feeling out of sorts it probably means that you haven’t been looking after yourself as much as you should. It goes without saying that you should make sure you’re eating healthily and are getting some form of exercise.

If you’re eating more junk food than you used to, just stop buying it! You can’t eat any biscuits if you don’t have them in the house. Treats are fine, but if your snacks are all sugar based its no wonder that you’re feeling run down.

Don’t neglect your social activities too.  Make time to see your friends, as this is the one thing that is easy to neglect. Why not go for a walk or to a zumba class with a friend, and then you can socialise and improve your fitness level at the same time!

 

Stage 4: People

The people around you have a major effect on your well-being. Make sure that the people in your life fit in with your current values and aspirations. Seek out those people who share your interests by joining a club or class.

Don’t be afraid of losing people. Be afraid of losing yourself by trying to please everyone around you.

So the next time you have the feeling that you need to take control of your life and have a “spring clean,” apply these four stages. They worked for me. I hope they help! Let me know!