It started with realizing that the sun had not set yet before dinner, noticing that my shoulders didn’t automatically hunch against the wind when walking outside. Then, when the flower blossoms started blooming and my allergies came again, I finally realized that we were running headfirst into spring.

It is interesting how spring brings up similar feelings of new beginnings and motivation as the new year. While ‘resolutions’ are attributed solely to the January holiday, springtime has its own version of starting anew – spring cleaning.

There are many mentions of what could be considered spring cleaning in different cultures and religions all throughout history, but the fundamentals of why they happen to take place in the spring make a lot of sense. According to a National Geographic article about spring cleaning, “In the colder months, we have less energy to spare…limited daylight triggers the hormone melatonin, which makes us sleepy.” It is no wonder then that when the days become longer, we are then hit with an uptick in energy levels.

However, if you were to describe spring cleaning to someone, would you use the word “deep clean?”  You wouldn’t be the only one. Blogs and articles on the topic of spring cleaning will present endless lists of how to clean every inch of your space, and sometimes we can get wrapped up in a spur of inspiration to follow them to the letter, but the concept of taking a weekend to deep clean every inch of your home for spring cleaning can be overwhelming and unrealistic, especially if you are living with a chronic condition.

So, instead of moving all the furniture in a day or taking every rug outside to air, what are some small tasks we can do for “spring cleaning” if we are short on time and energy?

Open your windows

• Especially on those breezy, sunny days, opening the windows in your home for just 15 minutes can make a big difference in refreshing the space and removing the stagnant air of winter.

Make tasks smaller

• If you do feel up to doing a deeper clean, break up tasks by room or category. Instead of trying to clean your entire home, start with the kitchen and then you can break it down even further. With my attention being pulled in many directions, even a deep clean of one room can take an entire day. So, I will clean by categories. One day I will clean the appliances only (empty the vacuum, clean the dishwasher and washing machine, microwave, fridge, etc.) and then the next day I might vacuum or dust.

Prioritize

• If you know you get fatigued easily, prioritize the things that are most important to you. This might be focusing on dishes or deciding that clean and clear countertops are more important to you today than a spotless microwave.

Upgrade your walks

• Spring cleaning doesn’t just refer to your space. Our mental health can also be affected by changing seasons. Short and manageable walks go together perfectly with spring. Try adding some mindfulness to them by listening to the sounds around you or paying specific attention to how your feet are moving during each step.

Spring has sprung everyone, and I hope it is a great season for all!