With spring around the corner, the anticipation of flowers blooming, sunny skies and sweet, fresh air is growing. The season reminds us that all things can be renewed and rejuvenated. This is a time where we prepare to spring clean our homes, but what about our daily lives?
With many years in a stressful military lifestyle, I’ve learned that anything I can do to make my life easier, the less stressed I am. This has allowed me to thrive as a spouse by addressing those common areas that have the potential to overwhelm me if not dealt with. When our environment around us and our minds are free from clutter, negativity and stress, it allows us to flourish and make the most out of each duty station.
Here are nine modern ways to spring clean your daily life:
Choose paperless billing.
Say goodbye to paper billing statements. Paper statements can quickly clutter your home and create quite a mess. Throw out any old statements and if there is a digital billing option, choose that one.
Toss clothes that don’t fit.
There is no need to keep clothes that are either too big or too small for you. They take up space and can affect you emotionally. You should be wearing everything that is in your closet while also feeling great while wearing it! Either donate or sell the items that no longer fit.
Renew damaged furniture.
Whether broken from a permanent change of station or everyday activities, take stock of all furniture that is damaged and come up with a creative way to bring new life to the piece. Either renew the broken furnishing or toss it out.
Drop toxic relationships.
Think of the friends in your life that add to your stress. If there are any that stand out as being toxic and negative most of the time, it may be time to say goodbye. The good news is that you get to choose who you spend your time with and who is in your life. There is enough stress being a military family, no need to add unnecessary toxicity into your life.
Organize your work area.
Our minds are a direct reflection of our surroundings. Be more productive and focused by organizing your workspace to create an area that is conducive to productivity. Knowing where everything is saves time and enhances creativity.
Unsubscribe.
Set aside some time to go through your inbox and unsubscribe to things that no longer interest you. Other places to unsubscribe from are YouTube, text message marketing and magazines.
Stop recurring fees.
Audit all recurring digital subscription fees such as apps, streaming services and online communities. Cancel the ones you no longer use. The small recurring charges add up and you will be surprised at the money you can save.
Free up storage on your phone.
There is nothing worse than the dreaded notification “storage full.” Have a purge session to delete old selfies or junk photos. For all photos you want to keep, either upload them to cloud storage or to your computer. Also, go through and delete apps you no longer use.
Rejuvenate your mind.
Everyone needs a little “me” time. Cut out all the chaos of the day by taking up meditation or a daily devotional. Taking intentional time out of your day to shut out all distractions and focus on yourself helps to minimize stress and clear your head.
Now is the time to organize, declutter and refresh your everyday life to be ready for spring.
