There may not be a giant banner announcing it, but you know it when you see it. As spring rolls around, the air becomes a little warmer, the skies a little bluer, and the grass a little greener. This type of weather often inspires other types of renewals as well, such as participating in outdoor activities or even spring cleaning. Spring cleaning is something most people know they should do, but often have a hard time finding the motivation for it. Although getting on your feet to start may be difficult, we at the Y want you to understand and enjoy all of the benefits that come with cleaning. Here are some tips and tricks to help you get started and stay motivated.

 

Setting Spring Cleaning Goals

Cleaning up is a chore that everyone knows needs to be done but is often delayed anyway. To get you motivated to take the first step in starting, think about the end goal of cleaning before you start. Is cleaning going to clear up the shed in your backyard, making it easier to access tools every week? Will your living room area finally get rid of old antiques that have been there for years? Are you looking to clear up the pantry and restock it with fresh bags of food? Focusing on the result of your cleaning can help you find the motivation to start and stay motivated.

 

Dedicate Time to Spring Cleaning

Chances are that even if you start your spring cleaning, there are still going to be other things on your plate that you have to do every day. If your spring-cleaning task is a large one, then break it down over the space of several days, or even weeks. After this, set aside a specific amount of time every day to focus only on spring cleaning. This could range anywhere from 15 minutes to 1 hour. This allows you to get your daily tasks done while also chipping away at your spring cleaning goals.

 

Have a Playlist to Get You Moving

Music is a powerful tool that often spurs motivation. It can get you to do one more rep when lifting weights. It keeps your rhythm when you go jogging. In this case, it can set the rhythm for how you tackle your cleaning tasks. Putting on some tunes while cleaning can make your 1 hour feel like it flies by! It can also change your mood and attitude while you clean as well, making the task less daunting and more bearable.

 

Don’t be Afraid to Declutter

Decluttering can be more than just clearing up space. People sometimes become attached to the things that they have collected. As a result, they have a tough time getting rid of some of their possessions. To help determine which things can be tossed, here are a series of questions that can help determine how useful each item may be:

• When was the last time I used this?
• Would I buy this item again?
• Would it impact my life to not have this?
• Do I have a similar item I like better?
• Could this item be better used by someone else?

 

The answer to these questions should help determine which things can be kept and which should go. They don’t even have to be tossed either! You can find a place to donate those items so that they receive more use with another owner.

 

Get the Family Involved

While it may not seek like it makes sense at first, you can make cleaning fun for the whole family! Cleaning can become a contest, game, or even party for the whole family. There can even be a reward incentive at the end of the task if your kids are small enough to be motivated by that!

 

If there is a time to clean out spaces around the home, why not pick a time as wonderful as spring? If you have kids and would rather tackle some of the projects on your own due to the nature of the projects, The YMCA Is here to help! Our childcare services and activities give you the option to clean away while we entertain your kids. Contact us to learn more about the different options we offer!