101 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com Spring doesn’t arrive out of nowhere. It shows up in a gradual way with longer evenings, softer air and more sunlight through the window. That’s usually when people get “big trash bag energy” and decide some things need to go. This goes for mental health as well as physical objects. Spring cleaning isn’t about fixing yourself and making your home picture perfect. It’s about noticing what you’ve been carrying and deciding what you can do without. Here are a few places to start according to the following advice from Rebecca Deans, owner of SHIFT into Organized, a local organizing service that caters to your unique requirements, creating a world where organization is simple and accessible to everyone. Their judgment-free, detail-oriented and personalized approach ensures a seamless journey toward a more organized and clutter-free lifestyle. BEGIN BY NOTICING WHAT FEELS CROWDED Stress and anxiety tend to grow when there’s no breathing room – emotionally or physically. Too many expectations, responsibilities and unspoken pressures. Don’t ask what you can add. Stop, think and ask what feels like too much right now. Letting go typically brings relief. LET ONE PHYSICAL SPACE BRING A SENSE OF CALM Your body is constantly responding to your environment, and it happens without you even noticing. A cluttered space can quietly keep your nervous system on edge. Clear a small area like a nightstand, counter or corner of a room slowly. Not perfectly. Just enough to feel calmer when you look at it. USE SPRING’S ENERGY WITHOUT TURNING IT INTO PRESSURE Spring brings energy and motivation, but that doesn’t mean you need a full life overhaul. It’s normal to want things to feel lighter and renewed once winter ends. Don’t go overboard. Start small with an unhurried morning, a walk outside or making space to not have a commitment or plan. PUT YOUR THOUGHTS SOMEWHERE THEY DON’T HAVE TO STAY Our minds are constantly overloaded, and it can feel overwhelming. Write things down just to get them out of your head. This won’t solve them, but it will release some mental clutter. Putting worries, reminders and unfinished thoughts on paper gets them out of your head and gives your nervous system permission to rest. SET ONE BOUNDARY THAT FEELS UNCOMFORTABLE Often people aren’t burned out because they’re weak but because they’ve been overextending for too long. Choose one boundary to practice. Say no. Leave earlier. Be clear with expectations of yourself and others. Boundaries are about making your life sustainable and livable. It isn’t about pushing people away or making others unhappy. BY CARI LAWSON Spring Cleaning Tips for the Soul health & beauty SHIFT into Organized helped declutter this closet. Photo provided by SHIFT into Organized.
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