Page 4 - Senior Times South Central Michigan April 2023 - 30-04

Page 4 Senior Times - April 2023
SPRING IS IN THE AIR
By: Sherii Sherban, Publisher
These days, we often use the term “spring cleaning” in reference to a variety of things, from clearing out the garage to going through our work in boxes.
designated time frame. Don’t choose the “one fell swoop” approach if you think you may get overwhelmed and run out of time. Likewise, make sure that if you choose to break things up, you schedule time for each project and stick to it. The point of this overall household deep clean is lost if it stretches on for months or is never finished.
But if you talk to anyone from an older gen- eration, you’ll hear about the days when they scrubbed every nook and cranny and polished until the whole house gleamed. Spring clean- ing was not a phrase to be taken lightly, and it was not an optional project. It was an arduous responsibility taken on every spring without fail.
house cleaning schedule or consider hiring a cleaning service if you can afford one.
How to take on Spring Cleaning – the key is to find the most manageable approach for you.
Once you’ve chosen your time frame, come up with a clear plan of action.
• Make a list
• Create a timeline / Include breaks
• Assemble a team
• Assign tasks
• Gather supplies
• Plan ahead for time-consuming tasks
• Focus on one task at a time
• Celebrate your progress
• Take breaks
• Prepare snacks and meals ahead of time
• Pump up the tunes
• Keep your goal in mind
Who has time to keep up with this tradition now? Actually, you do! Not only can spring cleaning be manageable and become part of your regular seasonal routine, but it’s essential to keeping your household fresh, clean, and healthy.
Do it in One Fell Swoop – With this approach, you set aside a block of time to get the entire project done, whether that’s an entire weekend or an entire week. The idea is to get spring cleaning done and over with as quickly as possible. I like this approach because, even though it may be intense at the time, you won’t have the project hanging over your head for long.
What is Spring Cleaning? Essentially, spring cleaning is about clearing out the things you no longer use, while at the same time doing a deep cleaning of the entire house. It’s
a time to declutter, reorganize, and complete tasks that only need to be tackled once or twice a year.
Spring cleaning is a big project. It takes hard work and sacrifice when you could easily be doing something else. But also know that you will get a sense of satisfaction and pride out of the hard work you put in. There is joy in pushing yourself to the limit and reaching your goals.
This all-out cleaning frenzy can take place any time of year, although spring is the ideal time to do it. Not only is it time to wash and store away your winter clothes, but it’s also perfect weather to open your windows and work inside and out. It’s an opportunity to air things out after being cooped up in the house all winter.
Break it Down into Smaller Projects – Another option is breaking your spring clean- ing down into many smaller projects, spread out over time. For instance, you could spend one Saturday cleaning up the outside of the house, another Saturday working on sorting out old items to sell online, and yet another Saturday shining up your place. This is a better approach for someone who’s unable to block out a chunk of time to dedicate to cleaning.
You can make it more manageable by devel- oping a schedule and plan of action. When all is said and done, your home will feel fresh and renewed, and you’ll be happy you took the time to clean out the winter dust and dirt, and unneeded items.
What shouldn’t be considered part of spring cleaning? Anything that should be done on a regular basis, such as scrubbing the tub, vac- uuming, and dusting. These should all be part of your normal cleaning duties. If you only
Either of these strategies will work as long as you commit to completing the chores in the
When you’re finished, be sure to reward yourself and all those who helped out. In fact, consider a reward at the end of each intermit- tent project. Have a BBQ, go bowling, buy nw baskets, or just relax. You deserve it!
do these things occasionally, set up a weekly
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