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Don’t limit spring cleaning to your house.
Spring is often seen as a season of renewal. It’s a time to revisit the goals and hopes that you had for this year and see how far you’ve come. We see the flowers blooming in the ground and trees filling out again and are reminded of the growth that can come after a long, cold season. If you have strayed from a few goals you set at the beginning of the year, now is the perfect time to try again.
Spring doesn’t just have to be about cleaning the clutter around your house or in your car, it can also be a time to declutter a few negative things taking up space in your heart and mind.
We often think that having a busy schedule means we are living a meaningful life, but it is necessary and healthy for us to slow down. In the same way that you tackle the chaos of your closet by taking out clothes that you no longer wear, look through your schedule and see if there is anything that you can take off your schedule to open up more time for the things you enjoy or to simply rest.
Take this time to evaluate how your year is going so far. This is the perfect opportunity to readjust the goals you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year. If you have dropped from your committment to eat start eating well, you can start visiting the local farmer’s market to for healthy options without the temptations the grocery store might hold.
As you are cleaning up and organizing think about the things you are thankful for and make note of them. Now is the perfect time to start a gratitude journal. Cultivating an attitude of gratefulness shouldn’t just happen around Thanksgiving. It’s easy to get distracted by all the things you think you are missing and not realize all the blessings that are already in your life.
Finally, get outside and enjoy the longer hours the sun stays out (even though for some of us it means losing an hour of sleep). Now that the days are getting warmer we have more opportunities to step away from the constant pull of technology and be present with the people around us. Go on a hike with your friends and family and find the perfect spot to watch the sun go down or plan a day trip to the city nearby and explore. Look for simple and enjoyable ways that refresh you and your family.
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