Spring Clean Your Space and Your Mind

Planning / Productivity

Let’s talk about the magic of cleaning. Not the Pinterest-perfect kind where you alphabetise your spice rack and fold your towels into swans (unless you're my friend Gayle who has a talent for towel folding 😆). I mean the deeply satisfying, mentally refreshing kind of clean. You know the moment when you finally organise a drawer and suddenly feel like you could run a company or win an Oscar? That. But bigger.

Spring isn’t just about scrubbing your skirting boards (though shoutout to anyone who does). It’s about clearing out the clutter—physically, digitally, and mentally—so you have room to think, breathe, and actually get stuff done. Ready to feel like a brand-new human? Let’s go:

Physical Space 

Clearing physical clutter isn't just satisfying - it's scientifically linked to improved focus and reduced stress. When your environment is chaotic, your brain spends energy trying to ignore the mess. That mental load adds up. So when you clear your space, you're actually giving your brain a break.

Start with where you work or spend most of your time. That stack of papers you keep moving from one side of the desk to the other? Recycle it. 
That drawer full of tangled cords? Untangle and toss the mystery ones. Get ruthless. You’re not just organising stuff—you’re making space for clear thoughts and fresh ideas.
Get rid of the junk: donate it, recycle it, toss it. No mercy.
Add one thing that makes you smile: a plant, a candle, a photo of you looking like a boss.
Don’t underestimate the power of small changes. It signals to your brain that this is a space for good energy.

Digital Space

Your digital world counts as clutter too. That chaotic inbox or sea of random tabs doesn't just slow down your computer - it slows down you. Try setting a timer for 20 minutes and tackling one digital mess at a time. Start with your inbox or your phone's photo gallery. You'll be amazed how light you feel after that.

Unsubscribe from junk emails and those from senders you just aren’t reading anymore.
Declutter your desktop - All those tabs, emails, notifications, random files, they drain you without you even realising it. Start small: delete old files you don’t need (yes, those 87 screenshots too!)
File stuff where you can find it later without crying. (Having 23 untitled documents in Drive is not helping you be organised!)
Bonus points if you update your passwords while you’re at it.

Mental Space 

Mental clutter is sneaky. Worries, to-dos, and half-formed ideas bouncing around like toddlers on a sugar high. You don’t always realise it’s there until you can’t focus or fall asleep. 

That’s why a good old brain dump works wonders. Getting it out of your head and onto a page gives you space to breathe. Dump everything into a notes app or a journal. (Click here if you want to download my PDF to help you.) You don’t have to solve it all—just get it out of your head and into the world where you can see it clearly.

You can also try a “worry list.” Write down everything you’re stressed about, then go through each item and ask: Can I control this? If not, let it go. If yes, what’s one small action I can take?

And here’s the golden rule: if something has been on your mental list for more than two weeks, either do it today or let it go. You’re allowed to quit things that don’t matter anymore.

Emotional Space

Yep, we’re going there. 

Emotional clutter is all the unresolved feelings, unprocessed experiences, and internal “noise” that takes up space in your head and heart. 

That awkward tension with a friend you haven’t addressed. The argument that ended in silence. Even a tiny lingering resentment can keep running in the background like an open browser tab.
Replaying conversations in your head. Obsessing over what you have said. Worrying about how something came across. These loops can take up major mental bandwidth.
Stuffing down feelings instead of expressing them—whether it’s sadness, anger, jealousy, even joy. When you don’t let emotions move, they get stuck. And stuck emotions = emotional clutter.

Just like physical clutter piles up on your desk, emotional clutter piles up in your mind—and it quietly drains your energy, focus, and joy.

Take stock of what you're carrying emotionally. Is it still useful? Or is it time to release it?

Even a simple act—like journaling out your feelings or finally sending that “let’s clear the air” text—can shift things big time.

Next Steps

Make It Simple

Set a timer for 15 minutes. Pick one space (physical, digital, mental, or emotional) and go for it. Don’t try to do everything at once. Small wins build momentum. (Remember: tiny tweaks, big wins.) When the timer dings, you’re done. Then celebrate like the legend you are!

Make It Fun

Put on your favorite playlist, light a candle, or treat yourself to a fancy coffee before and after. Spring cleaning doesn’t have to feel like punishment. It can be a reset ritual you actually look forward to.

The Takeaway

Spring cleaning isn’t just about your junk drawer (though, yeah, clean that too). It’s about reclaiming space—in your home, on your screens, and inside your brain. When you clear out the clutter, you make room for clarity, creativity, and calm.

So go ahead. Let spring help you reset. Your future self is already thanking you.

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