Recently featured "The Gut Health Coach" by Yahoo!, Chelsea Haines has a unique way of helping high-performers heal. She doesn't claim to know best. Her mission: to remind you that YOU are the expert on your body, only you know precisely what you need, and you are not "crazy" for feeling how you feel.
Flowers bloom, days lengthen, and the sun shines even brighter. The energy of growth and newness is palpable. It's time for us to emerge from our hibernation. Do you know what else goes with Spring? Cleaning. This Marcus Buckingham quote accurately sums up how I feel about cleaning on a good day: "We dream of having a clean house – but who dreams of actually doing the cleaning?" What if I told you that Spring Cleaning does more for us than declutter our homes? I’m sure it’s unsurprising that there are psychological benefits to this annual ritual dating back hundreds of years, with all the evidence supporting how powerful it can be for even the busiest of us. I put together a 5-day Spring Cleaning Guide for busy women. I’ve broken down spring cleaning into morning and afternoon activities and correlated those with a 5-day breakdown of a Gut Spring Clean. You’re only five days away from feeling refreshed and renewed in your space and body.
Could spring cleaning make you happier?
I recently listened to a podcast on Happiness called Simple Ways to Feel Great Every Day with Dr Ranfan Chatterjee and Dr Laurie Santos. Dr Chatterjee explained that happiness is a stool with three legs. Those legs were contentment, control, and alignment. All three were equally important, but the stool would not be functional if it had all three. Cleaning can be challenging, for that matter. But cleaning does provide all three legs of the stool.
There's nothing better than letting go of the old – contentment. I want to be the kind of person who has a clean, beautiful, and workable space – alignment. Research shows us that acts like spring cleaning actively improve our state, giving us control over how we feel going into this new season, our health, and how we feel – control. Considering how powerful our gut controls our mood is even more reason. Here are some noted psychological benefits.
Psychological benefits of spring cleaning
Reduced stress and anxiety
Indeed, most of us have experienced the difference when attempting to focus or even relax in a cluttered space. Alternatively, we feel a deep exhale while walking into a clear, clean, bright, and open space. Clutter and disorganization can contribute to feelings of stress and anxiety. By decluttering and organizing, you create a sense of order and control, which we now know is a prong of happiness.
Enhanced mood
Not only does it feel good to be in that space, but it also feels good to create that space. Cleaning and organizing are physical activities, as well, which, as we know, release endorphins, neurotransmitters that act as natural mood lifters. Completing tasks always gives me a boost, and I know I can't be the only one.
Improved concentration and productivity
A clutter-free environment can help improve focus and concentration by reducing distractions. When your space is organized, it's easier to find what you need and stay on task, leading to increased productivity.
Boosted self-esteem
Decluttering and cleaning can give you a sense of achievement and competence, especially for high-performers like yourself. Consequently, taking control of your environment and creating a space that reflects your values and preferences also gives you a sense of pride for where and how you live.
Enhanced creativity
On the other hand, regarding concentration and productivity, I believe in need a
clutter-free space so that my mind can wander freely instead of noticing all the things around me that need sorting.
Improved relationships
The only thing more satisfying than creating your own space is co-creating a space with your loved ones—a space you're proud of and work together to maintain. Community, cooperation, communication, and unity are all byproducts of working to co-create a tidy, uncluttered space in which you all love to spend time.
Sense of renewal and a fresh start
Spring cleaning symbolizes a fresh start and renewal. It's biological and emotional, representing a sense of renewal and purification. It's an opportunity to let go of the old and make space for the new physically and emotionally. By clearing out clutter and cleaning away dust and grime, you create a clean slate for new experiences and possibilities.
Refresh and welcome spring: A spring cleaning guide broken into 5 days
Day 1 Gut spring clean: Cleanse your diet
Morning: Start your day with warm lemon water to hydrate and support digestion.
Afternoon: During the evening meal prep – try to incorporate detoxifying foods into your meals, such as a colorful salad with leafy greens, berries, and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower.
Home: Declutter living areas
Morning: Start with the living room first. It’s the most rewarding room to sit in at the end of day one. Put on some music you love and set a timer so you don't get carried away.
Concurrently, begin by decluttering coffee tables, end tables, and shelves. Remove any items that don't belong or are no longer needed. Following the Spring Cleaning Gurus, remember that items in the home should either serve a purpose or bring you joy.
Afternoon: Move on to decluttering the living room's furniture. Assess whether any items can be donated, sold, or repurposed. Consider rearranging furniture for a fresh look and better flow.
Day 2 Gut: Hydration and mindful eating
Morning: Declutter your available drinks while sipping on your lemon water this morning. Sodas, cordials, and concentrates do not benefit your gut in any way.
Afternoon: Practice mindful eating by slowing down and savoring each bite during meals. Pay attention to your body's hunger and fullness cues, and choose nourishing foods that support your health goals.
Home: Tackle the kitchen
Morning: Start by decluttering countertops and kitchen surfaces. Clear off any items that are not regularly used or are taking up unnecessary space. Donate or discard kitchen gadgets and appliances that are no longer needed.
Afternoon: Sort through cabinets and drawers. Remove expired, broken, or rarely used items. Consider donating duplicate items and organizing the remaining items for easier access.
Day 3 Gut: Movement and mindfulness while you spring clean
Morning: We're hydrating on the good stuff, and now it's time to get that body moving. Keep it simple, especially if you're starting. A morning walk, jog, or some yoga (hey, it's spring, so you can even do your yoga outside!) Movement helps boost circulation and pumps our lymphatic system - part of our body's natural detoxification system.
Afternoon: You're going to be organizing closets this afternoon. That can be both overwhelming and stressful. Practice stress-reducing techniques such as deep breathing, short breaks, or, if need be, meditation in between. Another easy technique is to try and stay mindful. Maybe make your closet sorting fun by inviting over a friend or reminiscing about the memories you had in your clothes and the joy your donated clothes might bring others.
Home: Organize bedrooms
Morning: Begin by decluttering bedside tables and dressers. Donate or discard items that no longer fit or are no longer worn.
Afternoon: It’s time to organize your closets. Remove clothing, shoes, and accessories that are no longer worn or needed. Consider implementing a system for organizing clothing by category or color for a more accessible selection.
Day 4 Gut: Skin care spring clean
Morning: Makeup and skin care products. Your skin is an organ, and it's important to remember that what goes onto the skin goes into the body. It can be scary to consider buying an all-new range, so this morning's job is to look at your products' ingredients and separate the ones you'd like to keep using and the ones you'd like to donate/throw away/replace.
Afternoon: Consider the products you're using to make your bathroom and home smell pleasant and see if you could switch to an essential oil burner or a non-toxic spray.
Home: Bathroom time baby
Morning: Declutter countertops and bathroom surfaces. Dispose of expired medications/products, empty bottles, and unused toiletries (or give these to friends who might use them).
Afternoon: It's time to get down to the nitty-gritty. Clean and organize cabinets and drawers, discarding old or expired products.
Day 5 Gut: Gratitude and rest
Morning: Begin your day with gratitude by reflecting on all you've accomplished this week.
Afternoon: Prioritize rest by winding down with your journal to reflect on what habits/practices you'd like to let go of or continue into Spring.
Home: Spring clean miscellaneous areas
Morning: Declutter miscellaneous areas such as entryways, hallways, and utility closets. Remove items that don't belong or are no longer needed. Donate or discard old coats, shoes, and accessories.
Afternoon: It's time for the all-important step—donating these items and getting them out of your home (and car!) for good.
With these small morning and afternoon steps in just five days, you'll be on your way to a cleaner, decluttered home and a refreshed gut. I want to remind you to celebrate your daily progress and make this spring cleaning process fun and mindful.
Please take this time for yourself and your family to prepare for a truly wonderful Spring.
Chelsea Haines, Founder: The Gut Health Agency
Recently featured "The Gut Health Coach" by Yahoo!, Chelsea Haines has a unique way of helping high-performers heal. She doesn't claim to know best. Her mission: to remind you that YOU are the expert on your body, only you know precisely what you need, and you are not "crazy" for feeling how you feel. Her expertise stems from personally healing autoimmune disease paired with formal degrees in psychology, gut health, and mindfulness. She’s the Founder of The Gut Health Agency, where a team of health coaches & Registered Dietitians merge health coaching with clinical testing for increased patient compliance and lasting habit change ‒ a needle-moving combination not otherwise seen in the gut health space.
