I love Spring! Out of all the seasons, this is the one cycle that holds the most energy to help you get motivated for a fresh start, undergo a deep clean or start a new beginning. Humankind vibrates in tandem with the cyclical energies of the Universe. Cycles are all around us, giving subconscious information and guidance – from sun up to sun down, birth to death, planetary cycles, a women’s inner fertility cycle – the key is to dovetail mindful actions into your life that are syncopated to the Universal forces around you. What does that mean? Basically, with Spring here, now is the time to take action to deep clean and start fresh. You’ll have the forces of the planets energy to boost you. You will be more in your groove. Life will seem easier when you are in alignment with the energies around you. Try to accomplish one tip per day on the list below.
- Flip and rotate your mattress, then vacuum it.
- Clean out your medicine cabinet. Anything expired or half used that has been sitting for over a year, toss it. You really don’t need all those hotel toiletries, gunky hair products and dried up facemasks. Purge.
- Clean out air vents, fan blades, overhead kitchen exhaust – anything that moves air and collects dust. These often forgotten spots are debris collectors and greatly affect the quality of the air you breathe.
- Deep clean your refrigerator. We often do superficial cleaning – dumping out old take- out containers from the week before – but what about crusty, moldy condiment containers in duplicate or a jar of pickles from three years ago? When done with the inside, pull out the fridge and vacuum the back of it. You’ll be surprised how much more efficiently and quieter it will run.
- Junk draw. Organize it.
- In Feng Shui, your closets represent your subconscious. It’s where you put things you don’t want others to see. These collection pits often become analogous of the deep, dark recesses of our mind. What is your closet saying about you? As you clean out, focus on areas of yourself you’d like to work on. Visualize you are releasing what no longer serves you as you get rid of things that don’t fit, that you don’t wear or don’t like but feel obligated to hold on to. Let it all go – the physical stuff along with the emotional/mental stuff.
- Go through all your markers and pens. What ever is not working must be thrown out.
- Clean out your car and don’t forget your glove compartment, middle console, seat pockets and trunk.
- Files. Rule of thumb: Tax returns, real estate records, contracts, annual investment statements, keep forever. Tax return documentation and cancelled checks, 7 years. Credit card statements that are more than 3 years old, utility bills, reconciled loan payments, toss.
- Do a clean sweep of all your collectibles. Ascertain how you really feel about them. Are you keeping any items just because you feel obligated to? Let it go. Give it to someone else you think might enjoy it or donate it.
- Does your artwork in your home make you feel inspired, happy, peaceful (or any other positive emotion?) or does it make you feel neutral, complicit, angry (anything negative?). Delve into each object and how it makes you feel. Get rid of anything that is not uplifting.
- After deep cleaning, sage your home. Just like cleaning your dirt, grease and grime, lighting up some sage cleans the atmosphere. It releases any negative energy that is residing in your home.
- Deep clean your computer. Feng Shui it. Here’s how: http://www.laurabenko.com/feng-shui-your-computer/
- Whether you have an herb garden on your windowsill or acres of landscaped rolling hills, its time to get your hands in the dirt and connect with Mother Nature. Prepare your garden now.
- As you are releasing all the stuff from your home, it’s important to release the “stuff” from your body too. Consider doing a detox now, whether that means a day of lemon water or a Whole 30 Cleanse, now is the time when the effects of a cleanse will have a bigger impact.
- Assess where your clutter keeps clustering. For many people, its paper piles. For others, its heaps of clothes. Implement a new system for recycling near the front door, if its paper that is jamming you up and it will cut down on 50% of the junk mail, newspapers, circulars, etc. that enter your home. If its clothes that collect where they shouldn’t, avoid dropping them on the corner chair like you usually do and instead have a large, open bin for dirty clothes available and an open section of empty hangers in your closet to hang what is clean. Only allow yourself these two options in the moment of disrobing. (Unless you’re having sex. Then you have a pass and you can toss them on the floor or the lampshade or wherever until afterwards.)
- Rotate your pictures, photographs, and artwork for Spring. Put away a portion of your collectibles and then bring them back into the mix in the Fall. This will l
ean out your stuff and make it feel fresh again for a different season. - Take off your shoes before you enter your home. This will tremendously cut down on bacteria, toxins and dirt in your surroundings.
- Edit your books. Give away freely to others or give away to Goodwill. You’ll be making room for more reading opportunities in your future.
- Buy yourself some flowers of Spring. Hyacinth, tulips and daffodils are beautiful gifts from the planet that herald in this new season and serve as vibrant reminders of freshness and life! You will feel uplifted and inspired.
Enjoy this beautiful, short lived window of opportunity and renewal! xo, Laura
