Springtime, which runs from March 20 to June 20, invites many possibilities. One option is to try your hand at spring cleaning. Clearing out the clutter in your space can also clear out the clutter in your mind. To do this effectively, it is good to have a specific method. In this article, we recommend you 1) stock up on cleaning supplies, 2) get the whole family involved, 3) go room by room, 4) don’t forget the basics, and 5) use the Pomodoro technique. These methods have benefits for the mind as well.
Stock Up on Cleaning Supplies
Before you start cleaning, you need to make sure you prepare. We have compiled a list of some items you may need. They include:
- All-purpose cleaner
- Microfiber towels
- Broom and dustpan
- Mop or equivalent wet cleaning for floor
- Versatile vacuum cleaner
- Sponges and soap
- Magic erasers
Find what works best for you. You can try eco-friendly options or other new methods that you had not used in the past. Spring is a time for new beginnings — why not start making a change with the cleaning supplies you pick out?
An analogy to the mind: Before you seek treatment for mental illness, you need to make sure you have the appropriate tools. That means finding the right therapist, psychiatrist, or treatment facility. That means investing in a journal. That means investing in yourself and a clean sweep of your mind.
Get the Whole Family Involved
To clean your home, it’s helpful to get the whole family involved. Each family member can be assigned a different room of the house. You can make a list of chores, and each person can pick out a handful that they would like to complete. This can be turned into a helpful bonding event. At the end of the spring cleaning spree, you can celebrate with a meal together or another similarly fun activity. Make it into a group effort.
An analogy to the mind: Enlist your support systems. When seeking treatment for mental illness, it is important to tell the people closest to you if it seems appropriate. They can help support you on your journey.
Go Room by Room
Divide up the tasks for cleaning the house by each room. You can have each family member do their bedroom. Sharing responsibilities over the bathrooms, kitchen, living room, and other common spaces allows different family members to choose their favorite tasks.
An analogy to the mind: While compartmentalization is not always the best route, it can be an essential coping skill for an acute crisis. Like dividing up cleaning room by room, you can stash away problems in different corners of your brain.
Don’t Forget the Basics
There are some basic chores not to leave out during your spring cleaning endeavor. Some of these include:
- Mowing the lawn
- Giving the car a wash
- Changing the batteries in smoke detectors if needed
- Ensuring ventilation in the house is well dusted
- Pressure wash the outside of the house
There are other essential tasks to complete, but this gives you a general idea. Hopefully, you can set your home up for an organized year. Settling into a clean house makes all the difference.
An analogy to the mind: Don’t forget how you learned to deal with stress in the past. When seeking treatment for mental illness, you should remember the strengths you have exhibited in the past when coping with life challenges. Share these strengths with your care team. Those strengths constitute the basics of how to overcome your current obstacle.
Use the Pomodoro Technique
If it makes sense for you, you can use the Pomodoro technique to take small breaks while cleaning your house. While some prefer to go gung-ho for a day, others prefer to divide labor over time. For those who prefer the latter, try the Pomodoro technique.
Basically, in this method, you set a timer for 25 minutes to get as much work done as possible. Then, you take a 5-minute break. You repeat this for four intervals and then take a slightly longer break. For your breaks, you can have a snack, take a walk outside, or get some exercise in. These are just some ideas on how not to get burned out by the work of spring cleaning.
An analogy to the mind: To work through stressful experiences, you need to break up the events into smaller moments. Trying to tackle everything at the same time is breaking off more than most can chew. So, this way, you can work through the painful memory in a stepwise fashion.
Some tips for spring cleaning include 1) stocking up on cleaning supplies, 2) getting the whole family involved, 3) going room by room, 4) not forgetting the basics, and 5) using the Pomodoro technique. Each of these tips has analogies for the mental impact. Some comparisons include 1) preparing for the process of therapy, 2) enlisting your support systems, 3) compartmentalizing healthily, 4) remembering your strengths, and 5) breaking up a painful memory into smaller bits to recall. At Valiant Living, we know the importance of a clear head. That’s why we recommend spring cleaning! At our men’s-only facility in Denver, Colorado, we prioritize your primary complaints. Bit by bit, we can work through these concerns. We treat addiction and co-occurring mental illnesses. Our team of experts can help you clean out your mind and leave feeling fresh to take on your life. To learn more, reach out to us at (303) 952-5035.
