When I started writing this last month, Spring was in the air and I was ready. Now it’s April, the end of this weather-confused month and I feel the train leaving the station of life to jump into summer and all my plans taking off. A good thing but can’t say I’m not feel the “thinking emoji” a lot.
Still, before we all take off into our lives, it is by the calendar Spring at least, still official “Spring.” For me that means spring cleaning and this year, I made sure to include a couple of new things to clean up that I know weren’t on my list last year.
So, if you’re short on time, or interest and desire for that matter, how about a mini, Intentional Spring Cleaning to clear some of the cobwebs in just a few areas of our lives and get us back to feeling refreshed, because honestly, we do not have time for a full on deep dive. Life and sun awaits.
Here’s a quick rundown of what I’m choosing so tackle before summer hits.
First, a couple of questions to think about. I made a list of the following things just to help me really tackle what I wanted out of my Spring Clean. Ask yourself:
What’s working?
What’s lingering?
What can I face and edit that will make me feel better, uncluttered, and released?
Another important question you may want to think about is:
What is my capacity for the next you could do, 90 days or you could all the way to the first day of Fall, which in the US is September 22, at 8:04 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (according to Alexa, and to be exact).
For me, Spring cleaning isn’t just about my closet, that is fun, don’t get me wrong. To see clothes stacked, and purged and fill a couple of boxes or bags for others to find bury treasure in second hand shops – is fun. I love it. But it’s more than that, to clean up and to consider your capacity it also about looking ahead and contemplating what you have room for. No not a new summer dress, pull that one out of the box if you need too, add a belt but what do I room for in the coming months to do?
Rather than overwhelming yourself with a full reset, start here: five areas that would help clear things out and deserve your attention right now.
Your AI & Digital Life (Yep!)
I mean talk about clutter. Anyone remember the DVR – a repository of shows we didn’t have time to watch and then it would get full right, so full in fact that in order to “record” anything else we’d have to delete and clean up space to have the latest and greatest.
For the first time ever on my spring cleaning list, I’m looking at my Ai like a new version of that very same DVR. There’s so many things I’ve asked Chat to help with and some much ideation that it’s time. Almost a year into my Ai usage, and wow, what a mess. Same with my Notion (need to delete Evernote altogether, who even are you, sorry, I don’t even want to look) and what other Digital files do you need to clear out?
This includes:
Phone storage/videos and pictures, texts, etc.
Notes
ChatGPT threads
Half-started ideas
One thing to note is that so much of this can be attributed to some past versions of you. Honestly, a couple of projects I forgot about, I’m like what is that? Oh. I remember, but some projects didn’t take off and that’s okay. DELETE. Remember try not to hold on, you only tether yourself to something you just agonize over. Trust me if it’s not great, move on from it and permit (make space) for something even better to come along. It always will.
Try this:
Delete or archive documents tied to failed or forced projects
Rename folders so they reflect where you are now
Close out tabs, notes, and drafts you keep revisiting out of guilt
Let go of “I might come back to this someday” clutter
You’re not erasing your past, you’re creating space for your present.
And if something truly matters, it will come back to you, it will not let you go.
Next, Your Mental Space
When is the last time you cleansed your mind – I mean you’re cleaning up your physical environment, how can you clear your brain? Don’t ask, sounds terrible.
Spring cleaning your mental health doesn’t mean fixing everything but it could mean jotting down in a journal things that you just ponder for too long, e.g. what are some unfinished thoughts, lingering stressors, what’s causing your burnout? Give your mental a break. Sit quietly for a few days a week and just do a relaxing exercise. Pause more regularly.
Try this:
Pick one day to take off each week for four weeks. Not writing (for us writers) and maybe read the opposite of your go to reads
Write down something you’re struggling with and burn it or tear it up
Take a few days off from decision-making
Journal without trying to “figure it out” just put your thoughts out there
Take a couple hours off every day for a week of social media, news, noise, even TV
Go for a walk
Read a children’s / book
Try some brain games, things you might use that require analog (pen/paper, crayon/colored pencils/oil and watercolor) and DO NOT require electronic devices
What Are/Will Be Your Projects (Spring + Summer Planning) – This is probably my favorite, next to happily deleting my inbox emails
I personally love listing all the things. I mean all the things I’m working on, some times 2-3 pages and pages or more, of just stuff. Even I can’t believe it when I really sit down to see wow, that’s a lot. For this, pull out your calendar, look at NOW and what’s upcoming. If you really see a full list (and don’t cheat, a service I’m on doesn’t’ end until July but I’m still working on it every single month and putting energy into it until then). Yes it’s ending but it’s not over yet.
Once I have a list, I make some shorter list for each thing, and then I happily start slashing some things. The point is if you see what ALL you put down, that should be a red alarm going off, to tell you something on here can’t be tackled in the amount of time I’ve allotted. I need to let it go, delegate it, or move it to the Fall or dare I say next year, 2027. Be honest with yourself. Clean, purge, delete, reschedule.
Try this:
ONLY list the spring and summer projects
To weed out things you can’t do now, you might ask, is the money ready for this now? Is the company to do this ready? Can I do a good job on this or will I be conflicted/divided? Do I have the support I need for this?
Will this be negative if I move it to fall, or next year?
Were some projects for a different version of me? Have I changed?
Was this for real or an experiment?
Was this a distraction from something else?
Was this to impress someone else?
You might divide your projects into categories – Excited/Aligned, Necessary but Can Wait (e.g. Not Urgent) and TRASH or Next Year
When you do this hopefully you’re cutting the fat and making space for # 2 previously discussed.
One important consideration with this one and I beg you to take heed. That is to try NOT to move something to the following year or trash it, ONLY to replace it with something else. You’ve done nothing if you do that. You’ve only added more to your plate.
Next Up Is to Spring Clean and Spring Refresh Your Sources of Inspiration
While some of your sources served you well, people, places, groups and even conferences, it might be time for some new folks, some new groups and some NEW (albeit more niche, maybe even more expensive, sometimes) conferences.
Trust me, I know all about the beginner writer hamster wheel. As I come back from something I’ve attended for years, only to lament to a family why did I even bother… it’s me, it’s not them. I think as someone who has a heart for teaching it’s hard not to go to everything that’s on the ground floor under the guise of getting things for my “students” and not for me and where I am right now. At some point you do have to graduate. Not only might this be about learning levels, and hanging yourself back but it could also be about imposter syndrome.
Your inspiration should be ahead of you, inspiring you on the glow up with real tips and thoughts about discipline, masterminds, even six figure types. That means, more people way down the road to what you want to be, think Artemis II and what they did and not, those who went on simulation, put on the fake suit but didn’t leave earth. You got it.
Try this:
Ask yourself, what does inspire and motivate me to action? Do I have the energy, strong desire and discipline? How will I get these things?
Make a list of your current circles and make a list of what’s missing as far as subjects/teachings you need in order to grow.
Who are the current people? Did you make it to where they are? Or did you surpass that level already?
What would be one circle you need to get into? Did you study the beginnings and paths of those you aspire to? What steps did they take?
How will you make it into those circles
Who can help?
What events/conferences do you need to attend? Who do you need to meet?
Please hear (read) what I’m saying. This is not about you or whomever going far and then saying: I’m better than you, or I want to get ahead of you for whatever reasons -as many as you can think of. This is about I NEED to be stretched, pushed and disciplined more to truly realize how far I can go and sometimes you can’t go far sticking around comfort and familiarity. Believe me, I am talking to myself.
If you have a hard time with this, so do I and everyone else. The separation is already there. We already can see those who are “ahead” of us, sought after for speaking/workshops…making six figures on Kickstarter, on GMA, The Today Show, Reese’s (Witherspoon, that is) Book Club, Jenna Bush Hagar’s Book Club, get mentioned on The View, selling bajillion of whatever, and reaching what seems impossible success for ourselves but it’s not. We first have to exit the old and be inspired by the new and eventually, we’ll be up there too, but fear is often an issue that keeps us where we are.
Spring is a good time to get out there, out of your comfort zone and meet those who will refine, influence and grow you up to the next iteration of yourself
Try a little more:
Clean this up intentionally, say hello to people on social you might not have ever commented or spoken to
Unfollow accounts and pick new ones
Revisit some of those former inspirations that HAVE propelled you, e.g. books, podcasts, or voices that ground you. I often listen to playwrights, directors, and other writers that are not just authors. I’m listening not only for craft inspiration but Shonda Rhimes, for business acumen, prowess, and how some authors, like John Grisham and Ta-Nehisi Coates have used both their work and their financial contributions to support criminal justice reform for wrongfully incarcerated prisoners.
Add inspiration that reflects where you desire to go, not where you’ve been
Finally, expand where you where you find it; inspiration doesn’t only live online
Haven’t had an accountability partner, like ever, um get one?
Finally, for real this time, one of the things I thought about as I wrote this was not only the inspiration (which when you think about it is for the inside of you, your brain and heart to be pushed to next level) but I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that you also need to think about your outward facing public view of you. Your feed and your website are all speaking in some fashion and while I didn’t intend for that to be in this spring refresh/cleaning, it’s worth adding to the list. Might have to do a part two.
Last on the List Is Your Physical Environment
All of the above needs tackling and matters but we often underestimate how much our environment impacts our creative ability, energy and motivation.
This is a huge, but is often a quieter practical side that still matters a great deal in the big picture. Your physical space, the machines you use and your ability to use them efficiently should support you—not slow you down.
I do talk about your space a lot in Author Life Fix, one of my books, but in the pandemic, since I was then going to be home all the time, I drastically changed my office and when all was said and done, I felt like such a professional. Now, I’ve watched some office reset videos and make a few notes about changes. Here are some I always come back to, and what else, they’ve been inexpensive resets to feel like I’ve done something:
Lighting
Something fun – a new painting, or picture
Keyboard – the cute pink or purple one with the round keys that clickety-clacks a lot
Fresh flowers, a plant or an artificial one, don’t matter, up to you, and
A desk top mat – a color, purple for me to make the writing surface not only smooth but to prevent scratches from happening.
While the above is mostly inexpensive and cosmetic, there may be machine equipment upgrades that could also use a refresh. I mean do you need a new (refurbished) computer to prevent the black screen of death from visiting you? A keyboard – honestly for the longest time I used the keyboard without the keypad and I hated it. I love the keypad even though I only use spreadsheets sometimes.
Try this:
Ask yourself what are some small changes that don’t require a full overhaul?
Am I feel productive and efficient with my tools or do I want to throw them out the window?
How is my posture?
Would a professional organizer help clear the real clutter and their detachment help me let go
How’s my physical seating? Standing desk, footrest, or ergonomic chair make a difference?
Physical space also includes:
Shredding or recycling papers you no longer need
Fan or Heater in the home office
Clearing the desk of clutter and organizing important documents
Clean out your downloads folder, seriously stop avoiding it
Rename and sort files so you can actually find things – think about watching some videos that could help you with simplifying your filing system
Get rid of all those clippings – You do realize that by the time you get to some of the information you’ve “saved” it’s probably electronically available and depending on the time that has passed, it’s no longer current
Spring cleaning isn’t about becoming a completely new person. It is about making room for the one you already are becoming and intentionally refreshing various parts of our lives and ourselves to meet new opportunities and becoming more efficient and productive.
Choose something and work on it with focus and intention, then choose another, tackle that and another after that. Remember to take time off and just sit with whatever comes about. Some of these will take you no time and others need more of you to tackle, but starting to clear what no longer fits and to refresh what you keep, will inspire and motivate you to work through the rest.
