Spring Cleaning? Do NOT miss this area!

(< 3 minute read time)

It’s that time of year…. The time where we spring the clocks ahead, plan some fun for Spring break, and perhaps begin thinking about Spring Cleaning.     

I wish I was better at Spring Cleaning than I am.  I love the results of it but often the problem for me is getting started.  

It usually starts something like this in my mind;

Me:  We should probably do some spring cleaning around here.  

My mind:  Yeah, but cleaning isn’t fun.  Plus, it takes a lot of energy.  Wouldn’t it be better to lounge in cozies on the couch?

Me:  You’re right – what was I thinking?  I’ll go get us a snack.

I have since learned that I do not have to listen to every idea my mind serves up.  I can observe the thoughts and then make a conscious choice.

For most of us, the area that really needs the most attention this Spring is our mind. We have gotten into “thinking habits”. And, boy does the brain love habits. Habits equal efficiency.  Habits equal less energy expenditure.

Habits are simply behaviors we have delegated to our lower brain.   

My challenge, and yours, is to not rely on the delegations we made long ago.  Instead, we need to take them all out, dust them off and decide if they are serving us today. Kind of like cleaning out a closet. Here’s how:

1. Pull all the “stuff” out of the closet: Ask yourself to notice the results you currently have in key areas of your life:  Work, Family, Diet, Exercise, Mental, Emotional and Spiritual Health.  Write it down.
2. Decide what goes back in:  You may be quite pleased with the results you notice.  Keep doing what you are doing in those areas and just pop these habits back in the closet.
3. Demonstrate constraint:  You may find there are multiple areas where there is a gap between your desired and current states.  That’s ok! Not a one of us on this planet actually has it all together (despite what Facebook might lead us to believe).  At this point, you might feel like you want to tackle all of the gaps you have found. Or, you might want to make the whole mess disappear and take on none them.  Demonstrate constraint and just pick one priority to focus on now. Set the rest aside.
4. Upcycle to the new:  Now that you have selected an area to focus on it’s time to get busy on creating the new results you really want!  The good news is you made it this far in the process – trust me my friend, that is way more than half the battle. Ask yourself what is the specific result you would like to have for the area you selected?  Be specific and set a timeline so you can track your progress (To be specific think: salary, number on the scale, frequency of family nights per month, or amount of workouts per week etc.). Then, visit this post for step-by-step action plan to make the desired results inevitable!           

Happy Spring Cleaning of the Mind!

Cleaning is always more fun with company.  Let me help, click here to schedule a free, 30-minute coaching session.