There may still be snow on the ground depending on where you live, but tomorrow means it’s time for a spring renewal! March 20, 2022 marks this year’s spring equinox, which means the day and the night are equal in length (12 hours each). And what better time than when we “spring forward” to form some new habits to support us through the rest of the year. Spring is a great time to refresh your routine and re-organize the order of your life.
We feel lighter when winter fades away, and we can shed some layers. Everything around us begins, once again, to hum with life. Flowers and plants bloom, trees grow leaves, insects are abuzz in the air, and the pulse of life can be felt again. Springtime is a time when we start feeling more willing to take on new tasks and we also start feeling more hopeful. So what better time then but to embark on a good old-fashioned springtime renewal! Try one of these suggestions today, and watch your spirits soar!
Come with me into the woods. Where spring is advancing, as it does, no matter what, not being singular or particular, but one of the forever gifts, and certainly visible.
–Mary Oliver
Do a Deep Clean, and Declutter.
It’s best to start off your spring renewal with a deep clean.
There is a reason that everyone deep cleans in the springtime. Things and people have been cooped up inside all winter, gathering dust, dirt, and grime. Most people struggle with finding the motivation to do anything when the days are shorter and the weather is colder. In the springtime, you can throw open your windows, fill your house with fresh air (and air out some of those cleaning chemicals too!).
Decluttering your living space will also make you feel calmer. Why not take the opportunity to go through a pile of mail that might have built up on your countertops. If you have kids, it’s possible you might find toys in places they don’t belong (like under your feet, for example). If your kids are old enough, enlist their help to organize and put away a pile of toys. The basic rule with clutter is out of sight, out of mind, so with any clutter collection you may have, it’s best to find a way to squirrel it away somehow, or even throw it out if you no longer need it.
And don’t forget to clean out your vents! Take a vacuum and go over the slits in the vent, and make sure to replace the filter! Dust is made up of a number of disgusting things, including animal dander, sand, insect waste, flour, dirt, dead skin cells, and hair fiber. You don’t want to be breathing in the same dust, skin cell and hair collection that built up all winter, now do you?
Start a New Healthy Habit
If you’ve been waiting for the right time to start a new habit or routine, well, there’s no time like the present! Starting a new habit can actually be easier than you think, and what better way to kick off your spring renewal? You need to make sure to start small. Don’t try to tackle 10 things at once, or you may find yourself getting overwhelmed and defeated before you begin. Pick one thing you really want to start doing, then break it down into bite-sized pieces. Just like you have to learn to crawl before you can walk, the same goes for implementing any new habit.
Say goodbye to bad habits and say hello to a spring renewal!
Many people are much stronger than they realize. You can do almost anything if you really want it badly enough. Say for example, that you want to run a marathon. If you try to run the whole entire marathon on your first practice, it’s probably not going to happen, unless you are already at a superhuman level of strength. You’ll frustrate yourself, have extreme soreness and low morale because you didn’t accomplish what you had set out to do. However, if you commit to a ten-minute-per-day running practice at first, that is a bite-sized piece that is easily accomplished.
Starting a new habit only takes a little bit of discipline, and you have everything you need right inside you. If you are looking for some good ideas for healthy new habits, check out these 8 ideas. There is no time better than right here right now.
Take Control of Your Finances
This one can be especially difficult for some of us, especially if we don’t have much money to begin with. The key is to not get stuck in a negative-thought cycle. Instead, try to focus on what you can control. What are some things you can do to empower yourself?
This spring, renew your finances by making a plan, and sticking to it.
Let’s say you live paycheck to paycheck, and every month you have to shuffle one bill that you can’t afford to pay on a constant cycle. What are some things you could do to get out of such a financial hole? Perhaps you could take on a second job? Maybe you could move back in with your parents until you can financially get back on your feet. Of course, everyone’s situation is different, so what works for one person may not necessarily work for another.
If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask for it. The point is to try and change what you can control, and make a plan for the future. If you are able to make small changes to change the course of your life, you may be surprised to see how much is actually under your control.
Journal Your Goals, Dreams Hopes, Fears, Plans, and Aspirations
Journaling is amazing in its ability to help us feel better. Why is this? Journaling is actually a form of therapy–it allows us to get in touch with our inner feelings, thoughts and desires–things we may not even be aware of!
What better way to renew your soul this spring than journaling your innermost thoughts?
Our society can sometimes make it hard for us to express our true feelings. Everyone seems to have an opinion, and some people are overly vocal about telling you what to do. Maybe they are highly critical, and judgemental. All these factors can make us withdraw into ourselves, or rarely express what we really think or feel. A journal is the answer to processing these feelings, especially if you do not want to talk to other people about issues. Your journal can be a tool to help you recognize patterns in your life over time, gain mental clarity, and process difficult emotions.
Spring Renewal
Springtime is a time to renew, refresh, and reorganize your life.
What better time than right now to try something to start your spring equinox off fresh? Hopefully you find these suggestions helpful. Remember, everything you need, you already have inside of you. Happy spring!
True Power is within, and it is available now.
― Eckhart Tolle