Therapy in Chester, NJ
This the season for that good ol' spring cleaning that everybody talks about. But where do you start? And what kind of cleaning are we talking about? I'm sure we all love the feeling of a super clean house, but imagine if we could have a super clean head and heart too. I say, let's spring clean it all. A new season is the perfect time for fresh starts.
Winter is a tiring time of year. The holiday season is draining, but it's also magical and fun. When it's over, we are left with no pretty lights or festive parties--just the bitter cold. Traveling and commuting in the cold is tiring. Being cold is tiring. Staying indoors and living a sun-free life is far from endorphin-inducing. Seasonal depression is real, and now that spring has arrived, we want to rid ourselves of that lingering sadness and "blahness." Here are some tips on how to clear your head and make room for a new season.
- Take advantage of sunny days. Go outside, even if it's for 20 minutes. Take a walk, read on a bench, eat outside; just get some of that Vitamin D. It really does make a difference in your mood and provide you with energy.
- It is so difficult to get motivated to exercise in the winter, so if you've been in a workout rut, you are not alone, and it is completely okay. However, now it's time to get back into fitness. You mentally need to exercise--there are those endorphins again! Exercising is a stress reliever, it helps you stay at an emotional equilibrium, it reduces anxiety, and it feels especially good to exercise after having been sedentary for a while. It is also empowering to know that you are doing something that is so good for you!
- Take some time to reflect on your year so far. How far along are you in accomplishing those New Year's resolutions? Even if you haven't crossed one off your list, you can reevaluate. What is the obstacle in your way? Is there something that has been bothering you that you have been brushing under the rug? Have you been overbooking yourself? Do you wish that you were cooking more? Have you seen your friends as much as you would like? Just try to understand where you're at. Sometimes getting a hold on what's going on with you is very freeing, and understanding yourself can help you see what you want to do, what you want to change, what you want to try, what you want to solve, etc. Understanding yourself, your wants, and your needs can take you a long way!
The heart is quite sensitive, and whether you're suffering or recovering from heartbreak, are a bit broken about a job that you did not get or a job that you lost, had a falling out with a friend, and so on, Spring is a great time to wipe the slate clean and allow your heart to heal and start anew.
- Accept what happened, and know that it happened for a reason. Things happen so that you can get somewhere better. Be open to whatever "better" is, and have faith that if it hasn't showed up yet, it will.
- Find enjoyment in other things--the beautiful flowers, the hot sun beating down on you, take walks, enjoy new music, buy an especially good cup of coffee, spend time with friends and family, explore new hobbies. Open your heart to new people, places, and things.
- Pain often leads us to compare ourselves to others. It so often feels like the grass is always greener. It usually isn't. Focus on your strengths and what you like about yourself and your life. Don't count on a "good job" coming from someone else for you to believe that you did a good job--be proud of yourself. Don't look for validation from others, and don't compare who you are, what you have, what you look like, or what you do to anyone else.
Onto the cliche of spring cleaning your home! Nothing feels better than having a clean house with organized closets. Most of us can agree that the problem is getting there. The dread of cleaning and organizing leads us to procrastinate which means cluttered spaces and disastrous closets, which often means a case of major crankiness. Here's how we can dread less and get right to cleaning...and successfully.
- Keep your eyes on the prize. Just think of how amazing it will feel when dust doesn't coat your feet when you walk from room to room, and when there is room on your desk to actually do work on it, and when you can see your clothing options when you're getting ready in the morning, and they're wrinkle free.
- Put on good music! No one said this had to be boring.
- Do it in shifts, and focus on one area at a time. For example, if you want to clean your kitchen, focus on one cabinet at a time so it is less overwhelming. Then take a break--take a quick walk, watch some of a TV show, have a snack, etc. Then move onto the next cabinet... break, next...break and before you know it your kitchen will be clean! Then onto the next room!
- Give yourself something to look forward to afterwards so that there's a light at the end of the tunnel--plans with friends, date night with your significant other, ordering in from your favorite restaurant, and so on.
- Buy organizational supplies. Give everything a spot. This way, you aren't just creating a pile of those scattered papers, but so that you can actually file them into spaces that make sense and know exactly where they are when you need them.
- Don't be afraid to throw things out (or donate depending on what it is). If you can't remember the last time you used or wore something, chances are you don't need it. You can even create a bin for these things if you can't really decide or if you can't bare to lose them just yet. Then you could revisit the bin in a few weeks or months.
- I could go on and on about how to clean and organize, but to keep it short, I will suggest that you go onto Pinterest or Google to look into specific ways to clean your home.
Spring cleaning your head, heart, and home may sound overwhelming, which may make you want to procrastinate, but getting started is the hardest part. It doesn't matter where you start--just pick something or somewhere, and begin! Take everything one step at a time, and be good to yourself...this is for you and your benefit!
There is no time limit on when you must complete all of this, and there is no one size fits all, so go at your own pace, your own way, and keep your eyes on the prize: a fresh start to feeling like your best self. And celebrate every victory, no matter how small it may seem!
If you need more help cleaning out your head, heart or home I am here to help!
Call us at Modern Family Counseling at 732-742-0329 for more information about our services or to schedule an appointment with our therapists!