Spring Cleaning: Mental Health Edition
We all know the benefits of refreshing your home when the warmer weather rolls in, but our mental health deserves its own spring cleaning, too! Setting aside some time to make intentional changes can go a long way towards a healthy, happy season. Read on for our list of tips and to-dos to streamline your life and bolster your mental health this spring.
Open those windows! Not only does fresh air breathe life into a home that’s been shut up all winter, it does wonders for mental health too. Exposure to natural sunlight also boosts mood, helps regulate the sleep cycle, and supports the immune system, among numerous other health benefits.
Take your to-do list from mind to page. Do you have annual appointments that need scheduling? Can you think of any projects or trips that need doing? Make a list and check it off as you complete tasks. Writing down items that you have been mentally juggling frees up mental energy to focus on what you actually want to be thinking about.
Donate or declutter unwanted items. Season’s change is a great time to go through your closet and set aside anything that doesn’t fit your body or style any longer. A good rule of thumb is that if you haven’t worn it in the past year, you’re not likely to wear it again. Getting rid of extra clothing makes for less choice, and less choice means a more peaceful mind. The same applies for other stuff you’ve accumulated over the winter - less visual clutter means more mental peace.
Clean your inbox. We all get spammed with too many promotional emails and messages. Take ten minutes to delete old messages and unsubscribe from unwanted newsletters and promotions. Less inbox clutter means a less stressful morning when you open up your email.
Digital declutter. Your whole digital world, not just your email, deserves a spring clean! Our phones go everywhere with us, but they rarely get the TLC they need. Take a minute to sanitize your devices and inspect your cases for wear and tear. Check for software updates and review your settings. If you have some extra time, go through your social media following and delete unwanted and old accounts. It’s your social media, so why not curate it to only show you what makes you happy?
Winter reset. Time to wash and out away coats, boots, winter gear, and holiday decorations! Present you will be thankful for less visual clutter, and future you will be thankful for clean and safely stored winter supplies next season. Planning ahead is a way of showing yourself love into the future.
Set goals for the season. Maybe you want to be healthier this spring, start a new hobby, or spend more time with loved ones. Write down one big goal for the spring season, then break it up into manageable objectives and transfer those to your calendar. Sticking to one goal makes your plan realistic, and writing objectives makes the goal less overwhelming.
We hope you enjoyed these mental health spring cleaning tips. While these tips can help anyone live a little more intentionally and refresh for spring, they’re not a replacement for professional psychotherapy. Want to commit to improving your mental health this spring season? Look no further than AWC for experienced, empathetic care here in Shelby Twp, MI.
