The Big Spring Spruce Up
What better way to ease into the new season than a spring clean? Hygiene is already at the forefront of our minds but there's something about cleaning that can do wonders for your mood.
There are thousands of guidelines online for how to have the most effective spring clean, so we figured we’d save you the hassle of scrolling through endless posts and give our top tips for taking on the task.
Tip #1: Create a list.
Deciding to clean is step one, creating a strategy for how to best get through it all is the next. If you dive straight in with no structure, you can easily become demotivated and spend an hour looking up cake recipes to make with your newly rediscovered cake tin rather than remaining focused.
Tip #2: Work in sections.
Working in sections makes cleaning so much easier, work your way through your home room by room, in the order that best suits you. You spend a lot of time in your bedroom, so maybe start there.
Tip #3: Start with the big, end small.
As mentioned above, working in sections is best, especially from big to small. We’d recommend tackling the kitchen as it is usually in need of the deepest clean. Once that’s out of the way, the rest doesn’t feel so intimidating.
Tip #4: Set a goal and mini targets.
What would you like to achieve by the end of your spring clean? Having smaller targets to hit helps to achieve the main goal. If you want your home to be cleaned from top to bottom, how can you work towards achieving that today?
Tip #5: Blast those tunes!
Stay motivated with some music. Sometimes, the success of a task feels like it's resting on the strength of the playlist! Put on your favourite album or the one you’ve been meaning to listen to but haven’t had the chance to, it will help keep you motivated.
Tip #6: Listen to a podcast or audiobook
There are hundreds of apps to listen to audios on, so get browsing. Lots of us are looking to be more productive, so kill two birds with one stone.
Tip #7: Two are better than one.
If you live with others, grab a helping hand and get cracking. Put your teamwork skills to use and partner up with a friend or family member to make the job easier.
Tip #8: Use what you’ve got.
Buying all sorts of cleaning products sometimes just isn’t necessary. If you haven’t quite had the chance to stock up, make use of what you’ve already got. Salt, lemon, vinegar and baking soda tend to be staple kitchen items that last for ages (if your lemons are fresh, they’ll go off within a few weeks, which is still pretty good). Use them to combat odour, tough stains, grime and add a natural, fresh scent to your home. Or mix up a Zoflora solution - it's concentrated, so goes a really long way.
Tip #9: Reward yourself.
Giving yourself something to look forward to makes tasks easier. Scheduling regular breaks splits up the monotony of cleaning and refreshes you to come back with more energy. A coffee break or thinking about the cake you’ll reward yourself with at the end of the day keeps you motivated. Hang in there!
Tip #10: Enjoy yourself.
Cleaning doesn’t have to be boring. Think about why you’re cleaning and what you want to achieve. Research shows cleaning your environment has a positive effect on your mental health. Think of it like this – as you clean out your home, you’re creating a clearer space for you to work and rest in, which is what your mind does for you daily, so you’re achieving more than a clean environment, but a healthier mind too.
Do what you can to look after yourself. We are in a global pandemic, after all. Your health and wellbeing should be optimal; compromising or remaining in a state of anxiety does more damage than good, so be kind to yourself, and be at peace.
There are thousands of guidelines online for how to have the most effective spring clean, so we figured we’d save you the hassle of scrolling through endless posts and give our top tips for taking on the task.
Tip #1: Create a list.
Deciding to clean is step one, creating a strategy for how to best get through it all is the next. If you dive straight in with no structure, you can easily become demotivated and spend an hour looking up cake recipes to make with your newly rediscovered cake tin rather than remaining focused.
Tip #2: Work in sections.
Working in sections makes cleaning so much easier, work your way through your home room by room, in the order that best suits you. You spend a lot of time in your bedroom, so maybe start there.
Tip #3: Start with the big, end small.
As mentioned above, working in sections is best, especially from big to small. We’d recommend tackling the kitchen as it is usually in need of the deepest clean. Once that’s out of the way, the rest doesn’t feel so intimidating.
Tip #4: Set a goal and mini targets.
What would you like to achieve by the end of your spring clean? Having smaller targets to hit helps to achieve the main goal. If you want your home to be cleaned from top to bottom, how can you work towards achieving that today?
Tip #5: Blast those tunes! Stay motivated with some music. Sometimes, the success of a task feels like it's resting on the strength of the playlist! Put on your favourite album or the one you’ve been meaning to listen to but haven’t had the chance to, it will help keep you motivated.
Tip #6: Listen to a podcast or audiobook
There are hundreds of apps to listen to audios on, so get browsing. Lots of us are looking to be more productive, so kill two birds with one stone.
Tip #7: Two are better than one.
If you live with others, grab a helping hand and get cracking. Put your teamwork skills to use and partner up with a friend or family member to make the job easier.
Tip #8: Use what you’ve got.
Buying all sorts of cleaning products sometimes just isn’t necessary. If you haven’t quite had the chance to stock up, make use of what you’ve already got. Salt, lemon, vinegar and baking soda tend to be staple kitchen items that last for ages (if your lemons are fresh, they’ll go off within a few weeks, which is still pretty good). Use them to combat odour, tough stains, grime and add a natural, fresh scent to your home. Or mix up a Zoflora solution - it's concentrated, so goes a really long way.
Tip #9: Reward yourself.
Giving yourself something to look forward to makes tasks easier. Scheduling regular breaks splits up the monotony of cleaning and refreshes you to come back with more energy. A coffee break or thinking about the cake you’ll reward yourself with at the end of the day keeps you motivated. Hang in there!
Tip #10: Enjoy yourself.
Cleaning doesn’t have to be boring. Think about why you’re cleaning and what you want to achieve. Research shows cleaning your environment has a positive effect on your mental health. Think of it like this – as you clean out your home, you’re creating a clearer space for you to work and rest in, which is what your mind does for you daily, so you’re achieving more than a clean environment, but a healthier mind too.
Do what you can to look after yourself. We are in a global pandemic, after all. Your health and wellbeing should be optimal; compromising or remaining in a state of anxiety does more damage than good, so be kind to yourself, and be at peace.