Spring Refresh
Happy Spring! I am not sure how it is already the end of March, but here we are! This is about the time we all start reevaluating our goals we set back in January. And probably realizing we didn’t stick with all of them, or maybe any of them! I feel myself beginning to lose sight of the habits and organizational goals I set in the beginning of the year, so this year I am loving the idea of a Spring Refresh. During this time of the year, there is always a big emphasis to declutter physical items, which I absolutely love and encourage, but sometimes instead of a physical refresh you need more of a mental one. I wanted to highlight a few of my favorite ways to get my routine back on track. Some of these I have implanted pretty regularly, and others I want to add in as time goes on!
Time blocking
Time blocking is one of the most useful tools I have learned about recently. And it’s so simple. Pick a task, set a time, turn your phone on do not disturb and do as much of that task as you can in the allotted amount of time. Once the timer goes off, you have to stop and either take a break and go back to the same task, or move to a new one. It really forces you to sit down and focus on what your priorities are.
Habit stacking
What’s the one thing you do every day without fail? What is something you are wanting to implement? This is where habit stacking comes in. You take one thing you want to start doing and stack it on top of something you already do religiously. Eventually it will just become part of your routine! If you’re wanting to take your vitamins everyday, stack it with brushing your teeth. You can’t brush your teeth until you take your vitamins!
Night shift
Before going to bed, set aside time to pick up around the common areas - reset the pillows, put the remote back in its place, put the dishes from dinner away etc. It is so nice not waking up to a home that is in disarray. I imagine this gets more complicated when there are children in the house, but even just the smallest reorganization the night before will make your morning run a little bit more smoothly.
One in one out
Are you feeling bombarded with spring sales of clothing, homewares and more? Aside from a mental spring refresh, a clean out of your space is also a great way to feel rejuvenated during this time of year. If you are going to purchase new items, I always try to remind people that the rule needs to be ‘one in, one out’. New white t-shirt? Toss the old one that made you want a new one in the first place. This rule really encourages you to make those hard choices - both buying something new and knowing you have to get rid of something else.
Spring is always a great time to get back on track with your resolutions for the year and I hope these few tools help you achieve your goals!