Spring Clean More Than Your House

[Maureen Bonatch MSN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Whether you're scrubbing down the walls and carpets, or just opening the windows to let in some fresh air, when the weather warms up many people like to do a little spring cleaning. There's no doubt that celebrating the beginning of a new season by freshening up your home and removing clutter can give you a feeling of well-being. But focusing on cleaning out and reducing the things that cause you to feel overwhelmed, stressed, or that just weigh you down, might put a little more spring in your step.

Streamline Your Social Media

It seems as if there are new social media sites every day and often we feel like we might miss something if we're not checking them all. Usually that's not the truth, and often we find that some sites just consume way too much time or leave us with feeling less than positive about ourselves and the world. Take some time to review your social media sites and:

• Delete any accounts you don't use
• Unfriend, block, or hide negative people
• Review your privacy settings
• Limit the amount of time you spend on social media

Conquer Your Inbox Clutter

Most people have a never-ending number of emails and many people, like me, feel compelled to continuously check, and reduce that bulging inbox. But like that weed overtaking your front lawn, it's often hard to wrangle those emails into submission. Spending a little time organizing your email now might mean less of a digital mess later.

• Check out the new Gmail updates to help organize your inbox and Google sites
• Unsubscribe, or use Unroll me, to eliminate newsletters that no longer interest you
• Organize your emails with folders to get your inbox to zero
• Alternate sorting emails by starred, sender, subject etc. to quickly reduce and prioritize emails

Reduce Feelings of Overwhelm

Don't make lazy summer days feel like something you had to give up with childhood. The warmer months often bring a plethora of activities and social gatherings that has your calendar bursting. To avoid feeling overwhelmed with obligations try focusing on the quality of activities instead of the quantity.

• Review your summer months early and block out time to schedule the activities that are the most important to you.
• Just say, no thanks, or, I'm busy, even if being busy means a picnic, a walk in the park, a bicycle ride, or playing outside with the kids. Guard your time so you can make the most of it.
• Plan ahead and shop for easy ingredients, or quick meals, to help kick stress to the curb and spend less time in the kitchen so you can enjoy yourself more with family and friends.
• If you're double booked and don't want to miss either event see if you can schedule a quick stop at each event.

Freshen Up Your Resume

Perhaps the new season has you considering looking for a new job. Even if you're content with where you're at, it's always a good idea to make sure that your resume is dusted and ready to go if something awesome comes up unexpectedly.

• Review your social media sites and delete any unsavory posts or photos, or make sure these sites are private if you don't want a potential employer viewing them
• Give your resume a refresh and add new skills
• Check in with your references to make sure their contact information is correct
• Look over your LinkedIn account to see if it needs to be updated

Toss Bad Habits

As nurses, we often spend most of our time taking care of everyone else and end up neglecting ourselves. We know what we need to do to stay healthy and feel good, but we don't always make time to improve our healthy habits.

• Take advantage of the plethora of fresh fruits and vegetables available during these months and add them to your diet, or try out a new recipe.
• Enjoy the time you spent preparing your yard by pulling out your lawn furniture to relax, or get a hammock to sneak in a nap or to read a book.
• Even if you don't like to exercise, the warmer weather makes it easier to burn a few calories by getting outside and gardening, taking a walk, bicycling or playing a game with the kids.
• Reduce some of that internal clutter that's increasing your stress by avoiding negative people and spending less time hanging on to old resentments that only hurt you.

Lighten Your Load

Taking the time to reduce the clutter that's weighing us down mentally can help us enjoy the things that a new season offers. That way our home won't be the only thing refreshed, we will be too.

Do You Have Any Tips For Spring Cleaning Internal Clutter?

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

I like your positive tips especially having a resume ready for an awesome possibility. My first thought has been to have it ready in case of a layoff, don't know if that's because I'm getting old and more fearful, but an awesome possibility is a much better reason! Also like the tips on changing bad habits by incorporating good ones and spring and summer are excellent times to enjoy gardening and outdoor exercise.

[Maureen Bonatch MSN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Thank you for reading!