Springing into Work

maxinecleaningWhat is all the fuss with spring cleaning? Shouldn’t we always be cleaning regardless of the season? I think it is a common feeling to be motivated by changing seasons to change things in our environment.  When the trees start  budding leaves and the air gets scents of bloom, spring fever hits me! Then, I am ready to buy vegetable seeds  and excited to make lists of projects for outside and inside the home.

As Spring approaches, it is an excellent time to think about what areas of our homes need extra attention. What projects have been put off or need attention? A few questions come to mind as I ponder this topic:

  1. What projects can I give an hour a day to that would help my home and family run more smoothly?
  2. What spring and summer memories or events are typical for my family and what steps can I take to plan those?
  3. What areas outside or inside my home are being avoided because it is too overwhelming to clean, organize, or decorate?

Spring Cleaning is just a name that our society has come up with for a temporary motivation to organize with an extra measure of social pressure.  It is really nothing more than surveying the home or workplace and taking inventory.

Inventory by room by room. Each room should be maintained daily, weekly, and monthly. Clutter, clean, and deeper clean. Spring cleaning can be an extra time to re-decorate, put an organizational system in place, or re-arrange for a more effienent space. 

Spring Cleaning Inventory (the List)

  • organize the list by room
  • scan the room: what do you not like in the room?
  • assign your name or someone else’s name to each task
  • write down items to purchase
  • what needs to be thrown out, given away, sold, etc.
  • what doesn’t work about the space? brainstorm solutions
  • budget any changes and talk thru it with your spouse, get ideas, look thru magazines for ideas, get help, share resources
  • plan time to give to the tasks/projects
  • enlist kids and or family members to have fun with the project

After each room gets this inventory, priortize the rooms in order for your time and attention. Look at your life schedule and set aside a reasonable amount of time for these extra jobs. They are in addition to our daily stewardship of our home. Spring projects are great opportunities for communities/groups to take turns helping each other with as well. I have heard of groups in our church, once a month serving a family in the group on a Saturday with Spring outside projects. What a great way to serve and be served.

I love Spring. I am reminded as the green stuff starts appearing of the newness of life and the character of God. It is so amazing that God created seasons, months, weeks, and days. I find that with each new day I feel a fresh start, new motivation to love God and others more.  

As I start my list for Spring Work, I am intensely motivated to worship God in the ”before and afters” of projects!

Posted on 18 March '09 by , under home management, Joyful Work, Productivity.

4 Comments to “Springing into Work”

#1 Posted by Elisabeth (20.03.09 at 10:23 )

Thank you for this post. Just reading it is getting me motivated to take inventory of our home and get going. I’m not sure if it’s spring that’s gotten my creativity going, but I’ve been working on some photo projects that will make our home feel more personal as well.

We are also part of one of those community groups that helps members with house projects. Admittedly, I have not been involved yet, but our group is coming over in a couple weeks to help us clear out our yard and get it ready for grass, a garden, and chickens. We are excited to receive this extra help and be able to host our friends for a day.

#2 Posted by jen zug (21.03.09 at 08:42 )

Making lists of major projects is overwhelming to me because it just makes my already incomplete task list much much longer. But I like the idea of compiling a list of 1-hr tasks, similar to my list of 15-min tasks. This way I can look to the list for something to do when I’m feeling unmotivated or unfocused or overwhelmed by the “Forrest.”

#3 Posted by jen zug (21.03.09 at 08:45 )

Forgot to also mention that it’s strange how I never feel motivated to “spring clean,” but when Fall rolls around I go into Mad Organizational Mode! So I guess I do this same thing, just in a different season. I think it’s because we spend so much time outside playing and gardening and About Town during the summer, that by the time Fall rolls around it’s very clear to me how little attention I’ve paid to the INSIDE of my house. :)

#4 Posted by Sara (23.03.09 at 14:36 )

I like this post! Good motivation to keep working on the house. I just wish the weather would feel like spring…