Let Go of What No Longer Serves You
By Jane Cooperman
As I write this today, I am starting to pack up for a move. I will be moving 5 minutes away, but it still requires all the work. This made me think about spring cleaning, which many of you may be doing at this very moment. The weather starts to get just a little milder, and suddenly we open the windows and start cleaning and de-cluttering. It feels like a fresh start each spring.
Years ago, I was not a believer in spring cleaning. I kept my home neat, and clutter was contained within drawers and shut behind closet doors. I have since learned that the importance of de-cluttering goes far beyond making your house look clean and fresh. What happens on the outside happens on the inside too. When we de-clutter we make room for something else to come in. Letting go of what does not serve us in our home may make a room suddenly more inviting. Similarly, when we let go of what does not serve us in our minds, we make room for creativity, energy, spirituality, positivity, love, or something else. What is beautiful about this is that clearing out our living space opens up space within us that we can feel right away. Before it was time for me to plan my move, I had already started to let go of some possessions and activities that felt a little like a rut. Once I started the physical in-home clean-up, my mind felt cleaned up too. Suddenly I was overflowing with ideas about what to do next with my life.
Maybe this resonates with you, but you don’t know how to get started. One thing that works well is to take baby steps. If you want to get control of your home environment, you may feel overwhelmed. I know I did. So I took one baby step: I cleaned out my coat closet. I threw out, prepared to donate, organized, and vacuumed. I did it in one day and didn’t try to do any other project that day. I felt lighter right away. A few days later, I tackled my walk-in closet. This project took more than one day. There were always clothes on the floor. This was not because I’m messy; I’m not. I have two cats, and they like to pull clothes off hangers and pile them on the floor to make a cozy bed. I ordered additional hangers and garment bags for clothing I did not want to see on the floor. When it was all done, my closet was well-organized; though I still let the cats have a clothing bed. I felt lighter and I continued taking on small projects so that my current task of moving is much easier.
My mind felt so much lighter, and with everything in its place, I seemed to have more time. This led to my starting some new social and wellness activities. I was able to meditate deeper than usual, and my sleep improved. These are good results from simply de-cluttering my space. Maybe that’s why people started “spring cleaning” in the first place. Clean your living space and your headspace at the same time. Try it, you’ll like it.
Jane Cooperman is a Mayo Clinic-trained Health and Wellness Coach and a Registered Nurse. Visit her website for more information: janecoopermanwellness.com or call/text her at 201-240-4735.
