Spring Cleaning for the Soul

Growing up in south Florida, spring cleaning wasn't really a thing that we did because winter was typically the time when we would have the windows open the most due to the cooler weather. I knew what spring cleaning meant but I never grasped the full concept until I moved away from Florida and lived where weather actually got cold. After living through my first true winter, I completely understood the desire to fling wide all the windows to bring in the fresh air, wash the grime off of windows, and finally dust various surfaces, because I had experienced how "stuffy" the house felt from being closed up for so long.

Spring cleaning is great for our homes, but it's also beneficial for our hearts and minds, and not in the way you might be thinking. Yes, a clean home helps us to feel lighter, happier and more organized, but I'm talking about spring cleaning for your thoughts and beliefs.

Running on Empty

Can you relate to the young woman in the image? How many times have you found yourself feeling like you're running on empty? Maybe you haven't collapsed in the middle of a road, but have you ever chugged another cup of coffee, run to the bathroom for a quick cry, collapsed face down on your bed, or pasted on a smile and forged ahead?

As women, we are capable of multitasking very well. While this is a great natural talent, it can also have a negative impact on your heart and soul. Whether you heard it from multiple people through the years, or read books on getting better at multitasking, you may have internalized the belief that being busy is better than being lazy. Maybe this is how you think about it - being busy means being productive and productivity means good things, therefore, I need to be as busy as possible. In other words, doing less or removing some things from your list would mean that you're making excuses or being lazy.

Your Cleaning List

While this to-do list is funny and easy to complete, I want you to think about it from this perspective - it's short and simple. There aren't many steps, nothing complicated, no tasks that branch off into others or compounded responsibilities.

When it comes to spring cleaning for your heart and mind, it's important to make a list, but keep it simple.

1. Trim excess activities - what are some current activities you're involved in that add to the drain on your time and energy? Be honest with yourself and determine if they leave you feeling even more wired and tired. Find a way to politely remove yourself from volunteer activities, small groups, and other responsibilities that are adding to your feelings of overwhelm.

2. Out with the old and in with the new - identify habits that aren't great for you and need to go. For example, excessive sedentary time, scrolling before bedtime, procrastination, negative self talk, comparing yourself to what you see on social media. Here's the trick to breaking a habit - it's a lot easier to get rid of it if you replace it with a better habit. Swap sedentary time for a walk around the block, set an alarm to get off your phone an hour before bed, stop negative self talk and replace it with things your friends would say to you.

3. Prioritize Sabbath rest - what does an average Sunday look like for you? You probably go to church in the morning, maybe have lunch with family or friends afterward, and then what? Do you fill the rest of your day with chores, errands, and all the little things you couldn't find time for during the week? I'm not judging you, trust me! I want you to think about what you do with the time you have so you can answer this question - are you prioritizing rest?

Rest can look like floating down the river on a kayak with your friends, combing through antique shops with your husband, or simply sitting on your back porch listening to the sounds of the birds in your trees. God created and modeled Sabbath rest for us because He knows what we need; and it's not adding one more thing to our lists. As you spring clean your house this year, take some time to ask God to show you what spring cleaning will help your heart and soul.