Spring Cleaning for the Mind

How to Refresh Your Daily Routine

Spring is finally here, and I don’t know about you, but seeing those first little flowers push through the dirt fills me with this almost ridiculous sense of hope, even while I’m side-eyeing the mountain of laundry that’s taken up permanent residence in my bedroom.
Let’s be real: my house could use some serious attention (okay, a lot of attention), but the real mess? It’s happening in my head. My brain feels like one of those desktops overloaded with icons that you can’t even see the background anymore.
Sound familiar? If your thoughts are starting to feel like a web browser with a hundred tabs open, and you’ve spent too long trying to figure out which one is blaring that annoying ad, it might be time for a mental spring cleaning. Let’s clear the mental clutter and make space for what matters.

The Schedule Situation

Somehow, without realizing it, I’ve become that person who says yes to everything. School volunteer? Sure! Extra project at work? Absolutely! Learn to make sourdough while planning a family reunion and redecorating the living room? Why not!
Take a second and write down everything you’re juggling right now. Go ahead, I’ll wait……

Pretty scary, right? Now take a deep breath and cross out at least three things draining your energy. I recently dropped my “I should really learn to knit” project and immediately felt lighter. That committee you joined because you felt obligated? That social media platform you’re struggling to keep up with just because everyone else is on it? Maybe it’s time to let it go.
Time-blocking has been my sanity-saver. I schedule everything now, including downtime. Yes, I put “do absolutely nothing for 30 minutes” in my calendar. And you know what? It works.

Mornings: Expectations vs. Reality

We’ve all seen those aesthetic morning routine videos. The peaceful yoga, the journaling, the perfectly plated avocado toast. Meanwhile, in my house, I’m fishing a sock out from under the couch while simultaneously brewing coffee and negotiating with my kid about why Pop-Tarts aren’t a complete breakfast.

Instead of overhauling your entire morning, just pick ONE small thing that might make you feel more human. For me, it was drinking a full glass of water before coffee. That’s it. No meditation cushion, no sunrise salutations, just water. Start there.

Oh, and I’ve started laying out clothes the night before, not because I’m super organized, but because I’ve made too many questionable fashion choices when running late. Future You will thank Present You for these little gifts.
And please, I’m begging you (and myself), stop checking your phone first thing. It’s like inviting the entire internet to scream in your face before you’ve even brushed your teeth.

The Overthinking Olympius

Last week I spent two hours, TWO HOURS, replaying a five-second interaction where I said “you too” after a server told me to enjoy my meal. Why are we like this?

I’ve started scheduling “worry time,” ten dedicated minutes to obsess over whatever my brain wants to fixate on. After that, I try to move on. It doesn’t always work, but it helps.
Writing things down helps too. There’s something about seeing “What if my coworker hates me because I didn’t laugh at their joke?” on paper that makes it lose some power.
And honestly? Learning to laugh at myself has been game-changing. Remember that thing you were mortified about last year? Yeah, me neither.

The Social Media Vortex

I have a love-hate relationship with social media. Mostly hate lately, if I’m being honest. I’ve started unfollowing accounts that make me feel like garbage about my life, my parenting, or my inability to maintain houseplants.

I’ve also set time limits on my apps, not because I’m disciplined, but because I got tired of looking up from my phone and realizing an hour had vanished while I scrolled through strangers’ vacation photos.

Instead, I’ve been trying to fill those moments with something else. Sometimes it’s productive, like reading. Sometimes it’s just a different kind of unproductive, like staring out the window or playing a game on my Switch. Both are fine.

The Thing We’re All Terrible At

Can we please normalize rest? Like, actual rest, not “productive rest” where you fold laundry while listening to a self-improvement podcast. I’ve started going to bed 30 minutes earlier; I don’t always finish that show I’m watching. Somehow, the world continues to turn.

Creating a wind-down routine has helped. For me, it’s a hot shower, moisturizer that costs more than I want to admit, and reading something that has nothing to do with self-improvement.
And those small moments of joy throughout the day? They’re not frivolous; they’re essential. The perfect cup of coffee, five minutes alone in the car before heading inside, or watching a ridiculous video that makes you laugh until you snort; these are the things that keep us going.
Spring cleaning isn’t just about organizing your closets (though mine could use it). It’s about making space in your life for what matters.

So what’s one small thing you’re changing this spring? I’d love to know I’m not the only one struggling to get my act together!