As the days grow longer and nature awakens from its winter slumber, the arrival of spring brings with it a sense of renewal and rejuvenation. It is the perfect time not only to tidy up our physical surroundings but also to declutter our minds and create space for clarity and inner growth. Just as we freshen up our homes, it is equally important to spring-clean our mental space, clearing away the mental clutter, negative thoughts, and stagnant energy that may have accumulated during the winter months. In this article, we explore the transformative power of spring-cleaning your head, offering practical tips and insights to help you revitalize your mind, cultivate positive thinking, and embrace a renewed sense of well-being. Get ready to embark on a journey of self-reflection and mental rejuvenation as we delve into the art of spring-cleaning your mental space.

Here are some strategies for doing your internal spring-cleaning.

1. Ask “Do I still need this?”

There are lots of things we do or think that have just become habits. They were useful at some time in our lives but may no longer be necessary, or worse, be holding us back now. It’s always a good idea to see if things still fit in your life the way you need them to. If they don’t, give yourself permission to let them go and try something different. It’s important to replace them or else you’ll default to your old ways when you’re not paying attention.

2. Look for hidden dirt (damaging beliefs). 

When you’re spring-cleaning, it’s not enough to get the obvious dirt. You need to find the hidden stuff too. This is also true for the way you think. We all have things we do or think that’s based on some faulty beliefs. These are so deep that we often think of them as “true” and “just the way things are” if we are even aware of them at all. You need to ask yourself WHY you think or do the things you do and see what the supporting belief/philosophy is that’s driving that. I recently realized that I have trust issues. Once I realized that, a lot of my behavior and way of seeing the world made sense to me. Now I get to work on doing and seeing things differently. 

3. Remember it takes energy to keep it clean. 

After you clean your house, you have to maintain the spring-cleaning . The same is true for changing the way you think. Once you make the decision to change something, you then have to remind yourself daily (even hourly or several times a minute sometimes) of the new way you now think and behave. Be patient and gentle with yourself. It’s not steady improvement. It’s more like a baby learning to walk. You’re going to fall down a lot, but if you stick with it and don’t beat yourself up you’ll be established in your new way after a while.

4. Expect chaos. 

If someone comes to your house when you’re in the middle of cleaning, it’s going to look like a chaotic mess. When you’re cleaning your head it’s no different. Expect to feel a bit chaotic and out of sorts. Your relationships and routines will also be in flux. Even the positive new stuff you’re doing is going to feel “weird and wrong” but stick with it. It feels worse before it feels better – but it will eventually feel better!

5 You don’t have to do it alone. 

Many people ask for or hire help when they’re spring-cleaning (and/or to keep things clean). This is also a good strategy to use when you’re spring-cleaning your life. A good professional that you trust and feel safe with can help you make and maintain the change you’re looking for.

Remember, you don’t have to wait until spring to do some “cleaning”. You get to improve you’re life any time you want. So, good luck with your “spring-cleaning”.

By Dr. Ganz Ferance