Winter is done. Let’s enjoy the sun:
Yes, this title is a pun. Winter is finally over, the weather is warming up, and the snow has finally stopped (except for the occasional snow flurry). Utah’s weather being as unpredictable as it gets, we have rain, sleet, sun, and snow all in one day during spring. Personally, I don’t mind this kind of wishy-washy weather because it keeps things interesting. I’m just happy that it’s warm enough to spend some time outside and enjoy taking walks and reading in the natural light again. Now that the sun has returned, I can start to work on my goals in earnest.
Spring Cleaning, and Spring Planning:
I mentioned before that I’m not much of a “New Year’s Resolutions” kind of person but more of a “Goal Getter” girl. I don’t do formal resolutions, because I know I am destined to fail those kinds of sweeping declarations, especially the kinds made in the depths of my seasonal depression. When spring comes I can spring into action and clean away the negativity that builds up over the cold, dark months of winter. I start to work toward my goals in earnest, and buckle down on my mental health. I’m already a generally clean and organized person physically (my apartment is practically spotless) so the kind of spring cleaning I do is more metaphorical. I organize my mind, and make plans to reach my year-old, and long-term goals with my fresh take that matches the fresh plant growth. April showers bring May flowers, but they also bring clarity and peace to winter-muddled mind.
Spring Into Step:
What is my actual action guide? To be honest, I’ve already begun. I don’t make check lists or “to-do” lists for the season, as that will surely backfire. Instead, just like my first of the year plans- I make goals. Here is my spring goal list:
-Find and move into my new apartment
-Keep my apartment bright and clean to promote relaxation and joy
-Keep my schedule updated
-Work on homework and studies daily (this is more of a resolution)
-Create a flexible budget that reflects my income, goals, and needs
-Make more time for activities that make me truly happy
-Spend less time on mindless waste
What I’ve done so far:
So far, I am taking things one day and one task at a time. With work and school it is easy to become overwhelmed with all the “should dos” and “could dos” until nothing gets done at all. Instead of trying to plan out every second of every day, or trying to put every task onto a check-list that I beat myself up for not completing, I’m prioritizing and work blocking.
What do I mean by that? Basically, I’m not sweating the small stuff. I’m learning to look at the bigger picture, the primary goal, and build my day, week, and month around those. For example: to keep my apartment clean, I am forming several, small cleanly habits instead of writing lists of cleaning tasks to accomplish each day. Instead of stressing arbitrary to-dos, I my goals by prioritizing the big picture instead of the little steps I think are necessary to get there. I’ve found that this approach to turning dreams into reality, and thoughts into actions, has motivated me more than any check list ever has.
Final Thoughts on spring:
There is a reason there are so many poems and cliches about spring being a time of renewal. In nature the air warms, the sun comes out, plants begin to grow, and animals are born. For those of us who suffer from the winter blues, we feel our hearts and minds thaw with the ground. Spring time is the perfect time to employ the over-used metaphor of a garden for planting new habits and thought patterns. We know that it will take work to sow the seed of healthy habits, pull the weeds of negative thoughts, and reap our harvest of mental health- but many of us find as much satisfaction in the work as we do in the reward.
Bringing Mae Flowers 