It’s April in Nova Scotia, that time of year that we pretend is spring … although it might be more accurately called ‘Sprinter’, a combination of spring and winter that can’t figure out which one it should be.
It’s that time of year when we can have all four seasons in a day. Maybe you live in a place like that, too?
The moment it warms enough to open windows (even if I’m wearing a sweater!), I get the urge to spring clean. The house has been closed up and stuffy all winter, with boots and coats and clothes … and dust … accumulating.
Whether you have a large or small space, every dwelling needs a good thorough cleaning on a regular basis.
Spring cleaning, even though it takes some time and effort, brings many benefits.
Happiness
Having a clean home is a great feeling.
A cluttered, messy environment can wreak havoc on one’s emotions. Being able to come home every day to a space that is tidy and organized is a great gift you can give to yourself.
One of my goals as we spring clean this year is to reduce our possessions by half – it’s the best way to ensure a clean, uncluttered home. Maybe YOU simply have too much stuff, as well? Here are the questions I’m asking myself this year as I spring clean.
Stress Relief
It is a depressing feeling to wake up to disorder every single morning. You wake up to a messy bedroom, with clothing that doesn’t fit in your closet. Down to the kitchen with counters full of dishes and other clutter ….
Even if you’re used to it, living in an untidy environment brings you a great amount of unnecessary stress.
Spring cleaning will ensure that your home feels peaceful, rather than the chaos that you may have been forced to become used to.
Pride
Have you ever heard of CHAOS – Can’t Have Anyone Over Syndrome?
It’s embarrassing when your home is in disarray, and someone calls out of the blue and asks to drop by.
Should I admit that I’ve sometimes apologized to the FedEx guy? “The porch doesn’t always look like this,” I mutter to the guy who really, really doesn’t care how my porch looks.
When your home has been through a detailed spring cleaning, you will feel proud about the way it appears. Inviting guests over will be a pleasure for you, and for them as well.
Time
Time is yet another benefit of spring cleaning.
I know, it might not seem that way when you’re sitting on the floor sorting out unwanted and unneeded clothes, but it’s true.
When you have to dig through a pile of clothing to find a small piece you have misplaced, or search yet again for the keys or shoes you lose on a consistent basis, valuable time is being lost.
Spring cleaning saves time, since it gives you a change to reorganize.
It forces you to sort through everything you own once again, and give each tiny item a place of its own in order to be easily found each and every time.
Oh – and at the end of it, you should be able to once again mentally run through your possessions and know exactly where everything is!
Organization
When you are organized, life runs more smoothly.
If your home is orderly, your family and visitors will feel the difference. It will be easier to go about your daily duties, and keep on top of everything you are responsible for.
Health
Spring cleaning is a great workout.
It may be surprising to some, but both light and heavy housework give your body a boost.
You may be surprised at what a sweat you work up while getting your home into tip-top shape. You can be sure to move your muscles, stimulate your lymphatic system, and even get a bit of cardio in while organizing items and scrubbing walls.
Generosity to Others
One of spring cleaning’s outcomes is finding things that we don’t need. I’m not even finished and I already have four large garbage bags full of clothes to go to the thrift store. Cleaning out the pantry and honestly acknowledging that I’d never use certain things means I can give them away whitel they’re still usable.
This is a great time to give away what we cannot use anymore to someone who can benefit from our unwanted items. There are SO many benefits to giving to others – not selling your excess, but generously passing it along to those who need it.
When you have sorted through clothing that no longer fits, appliances you no longer use, and books that your children have outgrown, you have a choice what you will do with it all. Consider donating to a charity or someone in need. The feeling of satisfaction will be worth all the time and effort you put into it.
There are many benefits of spring cleaning, and these are just a few. Consider all the bonuses that this yearly ritual will bring you. Keep yourself going through the hard work with the thoughts of everything you will gain.
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