As a busy mom, the last thing you want to be tasked with is the dreaded “spring cleaning” that comes with this season. Spring brings so much beauty into the world and having to spend your day inside tackling monotonous tasks can be less than exciting.
As a new way of looking at it, below are five tips to reimagine what spring cleaning can do for you and your family, and some ways to make this process easier (and even enjoyable) for you!
Revamp Your Routine
Between getting your children on Zoom meetings, helping with homework assignments, and keeping up with ever-changing schedules over the last year, it can be easy to get stuck in a routine that may not be as efficient as you’d like.
One way to focus not only on yourself but your children’s schedules is to revisit how efficient your routines are and create a new daily routine if needed. While you might not consider this to be part of the spring-cleaning process, it is important to clean all aspects of life, not just your physical spaces.
If your children are old enough to help set their own routines, this is a perfect time to make a list together of everything that needs to be done in a day. Does this include schoolwork, chores, or appointments? What about homework, pet care, and relaxation time?
Once you’ve made your lists, try to assess where you allocate the most time (and energy) in a day and knock out what you can by scheduling your day accordingly. By writing your tasks down and adhering to a schedule, you and your children are able to not only more efficiently plan your day but can foster improved communication and accountability.
Makeover Your Makeup
With the year that was 2020, you might find that you have older makeup that you haven’t worn for a while. While going through the process of spring cleaning, it’s important to not forget about products that you might use daily (or not so daily depending on your routine).
Here are some standard guidelines of when to replace your makeup:
- Mascara: 4-6 months
- Eyeliner: 1 year
- Foundation: 1 year
- Eyeshadow: 1-2 Years
- Lipstick: 8 months
By replacing these on time, you can avoid any potential infections or irritations from makeup that has gone bad. Getting into this habit and writing down when you need to replace your newly bought products can save you time going forward and can also introduce you to the latest makeup finds.
If you find that your new work-from-home circumstances are limiting the amount of makeup you wear, this is also a good time to free up some space by minimizing your collection down to just the basics!
Focus On Your Finances
Another unique spin on spring cleaning is to focus on your finances. Especially after this past year, your financial situation might have been adjusted in one way or another. This is why it’s important to take some time to reevaluate where you are financially and where you aspire to be.
One way to spring clean your finances is to evaluate your credit card debt (if any). In 2020, 43% of Americans had revolving credit card debt, meaning that instead of paying purchases off completely, almost half of Americans were only paying a portion of their total due.
Use this financial spring-cleaning time to determine where your debt lies and how to make a plan to pay that off. Consider pausing or canceling lower costing expenses like subscription services that can add up quickly per month or determine if you have the income to make an extra payment towards your credit card.
Another thing to consider is your family’s financial future. If you are an income provider for your family, what would happen if you were not able to provide for them any longer? While this might not be an enjoyable topic to talk about, preparing for the future now will take the burden off of you going forward.
Looking into the cost of life insurance now will only set your children up for financial security later on down the road. With this policy payout, you can designate multiple beneficiaries to ensure that all of your dependents would be taken care of in the event of your passing. If 2020 has taught us anything, it is that you can never really be sure of what the future will bring, and it is best to be prepared for the unexpected.
Clear Your Closet
As the seasons pass by, it’s not unlikely that you have purchased clothing for yourself or your children. As this clothing has accumulated, it’s also not unlikely that there are articles of clothing that you haven’t worn, are worn out, or don’t fit in the same way they should. Spring is the perfect time to evaluate your closet as well as your family member’s wardrobes.
First, start by gathering two boxes or bags per family member; one for donation and one for garbage. Next, start with one closet and pull out all clothing, and lay them out if possible (for instance, on a bed). Go through each item and assess if it is:
- Worn out with holes or threadbare
- Something that you do not or will not wear
- Clothing that doesn’t fit properly
- Something to keep
With the items that you are keeping, think about organizing them as best as possible when you put them back into the closet or drawer for easy access. Establishing this habit now will help you and your children maintain this organization and will reduce the chance of hearing the great question being asked of “Mom, where is my shirt/jeans/jacket?”, etcetera!
Handle Your Home
As much as you may want to avoid it, spring cleaning does have to carry over to your home as well. Luckily, there are a few tips and tricks to make this process easy and pain-free! Before starting the cleaning process, make a list of every room you have and what needs to be cleaned in each room.
This can include:
- Floors
- Appliances
- Walls
- Baseboards
- Countertops
- Blinds/curtains
- Mirrors
- Furniture
After you’ve compiled your list, gather any cleaning supplies that you may need, including a mop, broom, and cleaning wipes, among other things. When you start cleaning, try to stick to one room at a time to remain focused.
If your children are old enough, have them help where they can! This not only builds responsibility but can take some of the work off of your plate. Keep in mind that the whole house does not need to be cleaned on the same day; feel free to spread the cleaning out over a few days or weeks if needed.
Final Thoughts
While many might find spring cleaning daunting, there are a few ways to incorporate your family into the process to make a little less work for yourself as a busy mom. This season, try to look outside of the “normal” routines and embrace the different ways that you can set yourself up for success this spring and the rest of the year!
Related: How To Organize Your Life This Year: Best Plans, Stationery & Way More
