Spring is in the air, isn't it time for a little spring cleaning?
Posted on 5th April 2017 at 07:30
This time last year we talked about the traditional spring detox, helping to clear away any ill effects of the winter, in preparation for the summer ahead. Perhaps from indulging in a little too much comfort food (!). Or having been cocooned on the sofa under a duvet for days on end…
We extolled the virtues of rediscovering fresh fruit and veg. Even better, eating whatever fruit or veg is in season, so at its best right now. And, by the way, english asparagus is just coming into season and tastes great!
Spending time outside in the fresh air every day. Perhaps even taking some gentle exercise such as a walk, bike ride or swim.
Maybe even doing a gentle liver detox using Milk Thistle tincture. Or, for the more adventurous, an old fashioned naturopathic liver and gallbladder flush.
But why stop there.
How about giving your home some similar treatment?
Throw open all those windows that have been shut tight over the winter. Let the fresh air blow through. There’s nothing quite like it for making your home feel better and it’s such an easy thing to do.
While you may not feel like going to the extremes of the traditional spring clean, taking the time to hoover into each corner – and knock down any lurking cobwebs – is guaranteed to make your home instantly feel much better.
For those of you who know a little about Feng Shui, it’s all about helping energy flow smoothly around your home. Getting it moving in those unused or unloved areas. The dusty corners of rooms. Spare room full of all those things you don’t quite know what to do with. Cupboards stuffed to bursting point. Places you avoid, where you can feel your spirits plummeting at the mere thought of them.
And while we’re talking about all those things you don’t know what to do with – but haven’t yet got around to “rehoming” – clearing clutter is another great thing to do at this time of year. Clutter is exhausting – not to mention a great time waster – as you hunt through it looking for the thing you actually want. It’s another example of stuck energy and literally drains the life out of you and your home.
The easiest way to deal with it is in bite sized chunks. So you can see where you’ve been, without it being over facing. If it’s simply a case of tidying up, then tackling a room at a time may be quite easy. It not, go smaller. A cupboard, wardrobe or box at a time. The rule of thumb you’ll often hear is that if you haven’t used something for at least 6 months then it’s time to “rehome” it. If this seems too much for you, how about extending this to a 12 month rule instead?
And there are so many “rehoming” options these days. Friends, family, your favourite charity shop, other recycling or by making a little money on ebay or the local car boot sale.
And while you’re decluttering your home, how about decluttering your head too?
Taking time to notice all the rubbish that goes on in your mind.
The unkind things you tell yourself over and over again. “I am fill in the blank.” As we said last week, replace them with something positive and helpful. It’s guaranteed to make you feel brighter and lighter.
The past slights, hurts and injustices that are long gone; but you still go over and over. Or discuss endlessly with friends or family.
As we’ve said before, the past has gone. There’s nothing you can do about it. Decide to let it go. It really is that simple and is an instant pick me up.
Or chuntering over what may happen in the future, but which rarely happens. And, if it does, not in the way you imagined it.
The future has yet to come. Again, there’s nothing you can do about it. Why waste your energy chasing shadows? Let them go.
And here’s another piece of decluttering you may find very useful. That’s to look at those you spend most time with. Are they helping you or hurting you? Toxic relationships drain huge amounts of energy from you on an ongoing basis; with many being more out of habit than true friendship. If you’re in any doubt of who they are, use the handful of change exercise to help you see people in a truer light.
Imagine you had a handful of change. From penny pieces up to £2 coins. Now imagine giving those you spend most time with a value.
The heart sinkers, who drain every drop of energy from you – and you know who they are (!) – are the small change coins. 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p.
The true friends, where you support each other, enjoy each other’s company and love spending time together with are the £2 and £1 coins.
The rest come somewhere in between. The 20p’s and 50p’s.
And then it’s quite simple. Spend the majority of your time with those of higher value, while keeping your distance from those of smaller value. That’s if you can’t remove them from your life completely (!).
To start with we know that this can sound rather cold and calculating; so it may help to think of it as making sure you use your time – and energy – in the best possible way. For you. NOT for everyone else.
Or, put another way:
“People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.”
Even better:
“A friend for a reason is not really a friend. A friend for a season is a timely companion. A friend for lifetime is a rare friend.” Paul T P Wong.
You’ll quickly be able to work out which category people come into and it can make moving on from certain of them much easier.
And, while you’re thinking about using your time – and life – in the best possible way, here’s one final thought. How about looking at the things you do every day without thinking? The TV you watch, hobbies you do, places you go. A little decluttering here too will make no end of difference to your life, trust us. If the thought of it doesn’t make you smile, then it’s time for it go!
As always, the choice is yours.
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