Make It Holistic: It’s Not Just About Your Space

Ah, spring. The birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming, and somewhere, someone is enthusiastically shaking out a rug like they’re auditioning for a Swiffer commercial.

Spring cleaning has been a ritual for a very long time —a frenzied attempt to sanitize every corner of our lives after a long winter of stir-crazy and cozy clutter. But here’s the thing: it doesn’t have to stop at your windowsills. Spring cleaning isn’t just for your home; it’s for your mind, emotions, self-care routines, and even your relationships.

So grab your metaphorical (or literal) broom—we’re cleaning house, inside and out.

Cleaning Your Space: The OG Spring Cleaning

We’ll start with the classic. Cleaning your home is the obvious star of spring cleaning, and for good reason.

• Decluttering: Ever noticed how clearing out that junk drawer makes you feel like you could conquer the world? That’s not just the caffeine talking—decluttering reduces stress and boosts mental clarity.
• Deep Cleaning: Scrubbing behind the fridge or vacuuming under the couch isn’t just satisfying—it’s cathartic. It’s like telling the universe, “I’m ready for a fresh start. And also, dust mites are disgusting.”
• Rearranging: Move your furniture around for a fresh perspective. Bonus points if you use some Feng Shui principles to invite good vibes into your home (remember that blog?).
• Pick one small, manageable area to start with—your bedside table, your pantry, or the bathroom counter. Once you see progress, you’ll be inspired to keep going. Or not.

Emotional Spring Cleaning: Out With the Old Drama

Let’s be real: we all have emotional cobwebs hanging around. Maybe it’s the resentment you’ve been harboring toward your ex, or the guilt over a long-forgotten New Year’s resolution. Spring is the perfect time to sweep that mess out.

• Let Go of Grudges: Forgiveness doesn’t mean you’re saying what happened was okay. It just means you’re freeing yourself from carrying the emotional weight. Try the Radical Acceptance approach instead.
• Journal It Out: Write down what’s been bothering you—then shred, burn, or delete it. The act of letting go can be surprisingly freeing.
• Set Emotional Boundaries: Remember, “No, thank you” (or its snarky cousin, “Hard pass”) is a full sentence.
• Schedule a “feelings declutter” session. Light a candle, put on some music, and journal or meditate on what emotional baggage you’re ready to release.

Mental Spring Cleaning: Sweep Out the Brain Fog

Winter is cozy, but let’s face it—by March, your brain might feel like a cluttered attic. If your thoughts are as scattered as those unopened emails, it’s time for a refresh.

• Reevaluate Priorities: What’s taking up space in your mind that doesn’t deserve to be there? Are you obsessing over things that don’t align with your values?
• Mindfulness Reset: Practice grounding exercises to clear your mental clutter. Breathe, focus on the present, and remind yourself that you don’t need to solve all the world’s problems by 2 PM.
• Digital Detox: Do you really need 14 tabs open at once? (Spoiler: you don’t.) Take an hour to organize your files, clean out your inbox, and delete those apps you never use.
• Pick one mental clutter culprit—like an overwhelming task or a decision you’ve been procrastinating on—and tackle it today. 

Self-Care Spring Cleaning: Ditch What Doesn’t Serve You

Self-care is great… until it becomes just another to-do list item. If your self-care routine feels more like a chore than a joy, it’s time to clean house.

• Audit Your Habits: Are your self-care practices actually helping you? If that nightly “relaxation wine” is disrupting your sleep, or your yoga app feels more like a guilt trip, it might be time to rethink.
• Recommit to Basics: Drink water, get enough sleep, and move your body in ways that feel good. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel—just start with the essentials.
• Try Something New: Spring is a season of renewal. Why not experiment with a new self-care ritual, like gardening, forest bathing, or learning to say “no” without apologizing?
• Pick one new self-care habit to try this spring. Maybe it’s a gratitude journal, a new class, or a weekly “screen-free hour.”

Garden Therapy: Cultivate Growth, Literally

Gardening isn’t just about pretty flowers—it’s a metaphor for life. It’s messy, unpredictable, and wildly rewarding.

• Plant Something New: Whether it’s a windowsill herb garden or a full vegetable plot, planting something is an act of hope and renewal.
• Weed Out the Old: Literally and metaphorically. Pull up the weeds in your garden and your life—anything that’s draining your energy without giving back.
• Get Your Hands Dirty: There’s something grounding about digging in the dirt. Studies even show that soil microbes can boost your mood.
• Start with one small gardening project—a single potted plant or a few flowers. Hopefully, you’ll notice how tending to it helps you feel more grounded.

Relationship Spring Cleaning: Tidy Up Your Connections

Spring cleaning isn’t just about stuff—it’s about people, too. Relationships can get cluttered, just like closets.

• Nurture the Good Ones: Reach out to the people who bring you joy, and let them know you appreciate them.
• Set Boundaries: If a relationship feels more draining than fulfilling, it’s okay to take a step back.
• Declutter Your Social Media: Unfollow accounts that make you feel bad about yourself. Your feed should inspire and uplift you—not send you into a comparison spiral.
• Pick one relationship to focus on this week—whether that’s reconnecting with an old friend or having an honest conversation with a loved one.

Align Your Values: The Ultimate Spring Cleaning Goal

At its core, spring cleaning is about renewal—letting go of what’s not serving you to make space for what matters. That applies to every aspect of your life.

• Revisit Your Goals: Remember those 2025 goals? Take a fresh look at them and adjust as needed.
• Realign with Your Values: What do you want to prioritize this season? Whether it’s family, health, creativity, or rest, let your values guide your choices.
• Celebrate Your Progress: Cleaning isn’t just about getting rid of stuff—it’s about honoring what you’ve created. Take a moment to appreciate how far you’ve come.
• Create a “spring intention.” Write down one value you want to focus on this season and one action that supports it. Post it somewhere visible to remind yourself daily.

Body Image Spring Cleaning: Embrace the Body You’re In

Spring is when everything feels lighter—the air, the days, and sometimes, unfortunately, our tolerance for the bombardment of diet culture nonsense. As the season tempts us to swap out cozy sweaters for tank tops and shorts, it’s a good time to tidy up our relationship with our bodies and how we show up in the world.

• Ditch the Shame: First things first—your body is not a “spring cleaning project.” It doesn’t need fixing, purging, or a six-week boot camp. Your worth isn’t measured by how you look in a sundress or whatever comparison you have stuck in your head.
• Rethink Movement: Exercise should be something you enjoy, not a punishment. Find activities that make you feel good—like walking in nature, dancing in your kitchen, or doing yoga because you love how it stretches you out, not because someone said it’ll give you “spring break abs.”
• Wardrobe Edit: Spring cleaning your closet is the perfect opportunity to let go of anything that doesn’t fit or make you feel amazing. Clothes are meant to fit your body—not the other way around. If you’ve been holding onto those “someday jeans,” it’s time to say, “Hard pass, but thanks for the memories.”
• Celebrate Your Appearance: Spring is about renewal, so why not try something that makes you feel fresh and confident? Maybe it’s new makeup, a new haircut, or simply accessorizing with the same level of enthusiasm your grandmother puts into her garden gnomes. Whatever it is, make sure it reflects what you like. 
• Reframe Your Reflection: When you look in the mirror, challenge yourself to name three things you like about yourself that have nothing to do with weight or shape. Bonus points if you start your sentences with, “Damn, I love my…” because why not make it fun?
• Shop for Joy, Not Size: Instead of focusing on a number on a tag, focus on how clothes feel on your body. Buy something you love now—not for some future version of yourself.

Spring is about growth, and growth isn’t about shrinking yourself—whether that’s your body, your closet, or your mental energy. Instead, use this season to embrace who you are right now. When you do, you’ll realize spring isn’t about fitting into a societal mold. It’s about blooming into your most vibrant, unapologetic self.

And if you’re still rocking your fleece-lined leggings on a chilly April morning, know you’re in good company. Tulips might be blooming, but the weather clearly didn’t get the memo. You do you, spring warrior!

Spring Cleaning as a Life Reset

Spring cleaning isn’t just about mops and Marie Kondo-ing your closet. It’s about clearing space—in your home, your mind, your emotions, and your relationships—to make room for growth, joy, and connection.

So go ahead, dust off those baseboards. But don’t stop there. Use this season as an opportunity to tend to every corner of your life—inside and out.

And remember: You’re not just cleaning—you’re creating space for a fresh start. Whether it’s planting tulips, journaling your feelings, or finally tackling that pile of laundry, every little effort counts.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a garden to water and a closet to organize(ish). Progress, not perfection, right?

Resources & Links

• Cosmic Shenanigans
• Forget New Year’s Resolutions: Build a Life You Actually Like, Year After Year
• Self-Care for Humans, Not Algorithms – December 2024
• Simple Practice: How to Create an Affordable and Sustainable Self-Care Plan 
• Gratitude 
• Fill Your Cup with CONNECTION