Hello Spring by: Rosemary Lopez-Gonzalez

Hello Beauty!  Happy Spring!
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Yes, I know spring started last week, but I’m so happy that it has finally arrived.  So as the temperature starts to slowly warm up, I can’t help but get excited about the prospect of starting anew. Spring is the time when I step out of my wintery cave with visions and dreams of how my family and I will enjoy warmer days ahead lounging around at the park or on a beach or hiking a trail someplace lush, “foresty” and green.

Spring provides the opportunity to start new and allows us the opportunity to enjoy a fresh start. It is amazing how nature has a way of renewing and refreshing itself without so much effort. Nature gets ready a little bit at a time in a perfectly timed cycle.

My old philosophy was contrary to nature, it dictated a need to spend countless hours racing and scurrying around to “spring clean and organize” manage my stuff until everything was perfect. I used to get all stressed out because it’s the time to go crazy spring cleaning and getting things all ready for the summer right? Well it should not be.  Gratefully, that was my old way of thinking. I used to spend many spring weekends cleaning and organizing with the hope of tackling my grand master plan before the summer began. By the time I managed to get through half of my list, Spring was almost gone. For the past several years, I have worked on being intentional in how I live and have focused a lot of effort in being less frenetic.  The simplicity and calm have been such a welcome change.

My strategy for staying “spring ready” all year long is -to mimic nature and work in mini cycles and tiny bits regularly.  Having a standing routine of decluttering and cleaning serves as an anchor and enhances simpler maintenance. I work on one area at a time per week for short drills.  There can be times when I want to dive in a bit further and do a bootcamp organizing or cleaning session, but for the most part I try to keep it light and easy. This process can be done weekly, monthly  or even daily if time permits. Then, when a new season approaches there won’t be too much to focus on indoors because it has been addressed the prior month.  Alas, finally time to get out there and enjoy the Spring!..

I have found this method of staying organized with routines to be a most helpful framework.  It keeps things calm and prevents the need for a crash course in spring readiness. If we were to operate in cycles, or mini drills like nature does we could relax and enjoy the changing seasons as they develop right in before of us.

I encourage you to consider doing the same.  Establish small routines regularly and spring organizing will be part of your normal day.  Plus, this process will be so much easier than having to make a mad dash.
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How have you made changes to how you look at spring cleaning and organizing? Do you like intense drills and bootcamps to kick off the season which I like too sometimes, I say that sparingly.  Or do you like to ease into the season gently?  
I would love to hear what you would have to say share your comments!

With warm regards,

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