I know that I am not the only one who is excited about Spring! 

This pandemic winter was a little harder than other winters of the past. I often exhibit some symptoms of seasonal depression. Waking up to darkness and having shorter days tends to have an effect on my mood. However, Spring means extra daylight and it does wonders for my mental health.

 I am a self-proclaimed sun goddess and seeing the sun earlier in the morning makes me happy. Trees are starting to bud, tulips are coming up from the Earth, and the birds are a little bit chirpier. 

With all of these wonderful things, Spring for me also brings about a cleansing. There is a need to lighten the load in all areas. It’s time to put away most of the winter sweaters and heavy coats. I said, “most” because we all know that Winter likes to peak his head back in and surprise us with a few snow flurries. 

A way of lightening the load for me is Spring cleaning. 

I have to set realistic goals. I tend to want to clean out the entire apartment in just one day. This leads to my chaise being redecorated with clothes. I love a to-do list and can turn any task into a monumental project. 

Have you heard of the Pomodoro method? 

This method helps you stay on task. You pick a task, set a timer for 30 minutes, work on that task for 30 minutes, after 30 minutes take a 5-minute break, after each break add 5 additional minutes to your break time. 

There are tons of apps you can use for the method. The one I use has different sounds you set for the duration of the tasks. The sound I use is rainforest. If I am working on a task and do not have my Pomodoro app on, I do not feel like I am completing my tasks.

Here’s a few apps you can try out: 12 Best Pomodoro Timers to Try — Keep Productive

I have to break a task down into the easiest steps. One of my main projects this year was to clean out my bookcase. Here are the steps that I followed:

• One shelf at a time.
• Remove all of the books. 
• Make 3 piles. Pile 1: books I am keeping. Pile 2: books I might keep. Pile 3: I am donating. 
• Repeat with the rest of the bookcase, shelf by shelf. 
• Put all of the books in pile 1 back into the bookshelf. 
• Re-sort pile 2 and add books to the donate pile. 
• Add the books you are keeping back to the bookcase.
• The donated pile has to leave the house immediately. 

Tip: DO NOT LOOK THROUGH THIS PILE. YOU WILL WANT TO KEEP AND SECOND GUESS YOUR DECISION. DON’T.

Let me know your Spring cleaning projects and if you plan on using the Pomodoro method. 

My bedroom closet is next. I will let you know how that turns out.