Countless homeowners live by the ‘tidy house, tidy mind’ mantra – using cleaning as a way of clearing their mind.
In a similar vein, spring cleaning has become as much of an annual ritual as Christmas, Easter, and all the other notable celebrations throughout the year.
What does this tell us?
If nothing else, it tells us that cleaning is intrinsically linked with hitting the reset button and starting afresh – both in physical surroundings and mentally.
When your setting and environment are clean and organised, it is widely believed that your mind and mental state enjoy the same organisation. Which is why, as exams approach and deadlines loom, maintaining a tidy home is a good way to spend some free time.
Keep reading for our tips on how to refresh your space – and your mind – over the coming weeks of Spring.
When should you clean?
Before we share our top tips on where to start and how best to organise your spring cleaning regime, we wanted to tackle a big challenge that many students face.
Guilt at not spending every waking hour on university work, coursework, revision, and exam prep, is a real issue for many students – particularly in the summer term. It’s very easy to get worked up about the amount of work you have to do, failing to give your mind a rest and a change in direction to focus on something else.
But did you know that taking some time out and channeling your energy into something else is actually good for your mental well-being and your ability to take things in?
While going out for a walk is always a good way to reset your mind, the very act of cleaning and arranging your possessions and student home can work wonders on your mindset and mental capacity. So, you won’t just end up with a time home – you’ll also give your mind a rest and a chance to focus on something else.
Where to start when it comes to a spring clean
Once you’ve made the decision to start a spring clean, the next challenge is knowing where to start.
This is where prioritising your space is important – and if you agree that a tidy house leads to a tidy mind, it follows that the best place to start is with your desk and workstation.
Decluttering your desk and organising your workspace will make you feel more positive when it comes to doing your work and revising. It will also make it easier for you to find things that you need when going over your previous work and will encourage you to get rid of any files and documents that you don’t need anymore.
Tackle the spaces where you want to relax
Perhaps the biggest tip that we will share in this blog is to focus on spring cleaning not just your workspace, but also your relaxing space and the part of your accommodation where you enjoy your downtime.
Whether it’s your living space, bedroom, or a balcony fixed to your student accommodation, having somewhere that’s not littered with post-it notes and revision reminders is important for achieving that all-important balance.
Refresh your routine as well as your space
Another piece of advice that comes directly from our team that works with students, is to use this time of year to mix up your routine.
When we get stuck in a rut, it can be difficult to really take things in and channel energy into what matters. Changing your routine, for example, adding a morning meditation session to your day or heading out for a jog at lunchtime, will keep your brain engaged and active – plus, adding healthy habits will do wonders for your mindset.
Create a schedule if you live in shared accommodation
Cleaning is a bit of a touchy subject in shared accommodation, especially if one person is committed to maintaining a clean and tidy home when others aren’t as bothered.
The only way to keep it fair and to avoid awkward conversations is to create a basic cleaning schedule that gives everyone equal responsibility and shares out the worst jobs on a rota.
Everyone should take responsibility for the space they live in and should be respectful of the impact that their lifestyle has on others. While cleaning up after yourself should be a no-brainer in shared accommodation and student housing, sharing out the underlying cleaning tasks should also be a part of your everyday household routine and management.
Sell stuff you don’t need!
Whether it’s clothes on Vinted or old textbooks through a campus sale or second-hand textbooks website, decluttering can have financial benefits as well as mental ones!
Being able to sell some of the possessions and items that you no longer need is a good way to make a little extra cash – plus it will encourage you to continue to free up space and regularly list things that you no longer need or want to help fund those Friday night drinks at the pub.
Refresh your bedding regularly
This is probably one that a mother figure in your life has already told you, but don’t neglect to change and refresh your bedding on a regular basis! It’s not just good for your mindset – it’s also good for your physical health, for your skin, for your hair, and for basically every part of your life.
Wash your bedding every week – your bedtime routine and morning skin will more than thank you for it!
How to make spring cleaning a priority
There is no better time to indulge in a clean-up of your workspace and student house than during the spring when the weather is getting better, and the days are getting longer. Invest in your environment and see the benefits in your mental health and well-being, your mood, and your approach to university work and the coming exams of the summer term.
