As we enter spring here in the Northeast, it seems like a great time for a "Clean Up Week" to motivate you to purge, clean, or organize your space so you can welcome in new beginnings. So this week, here are four ways to do just that...
1.
Recycle - Go through old magazines, books, or catalogs and get rid of them. Bring the magazines to a doctor's office, hair salon, or health club. Fill the recycling bin with outdated catalogs. Donate books to your local library or church for an upcoming sale. There are plenty of organizations that take used books. For example, we have
gotbooks.com here in Mass., and they'll pick them up from your home or office. To find an organization near you, all you need to do is put "book giveaway + your town and state" in Google for ideas.
2.
Trade Treasures - Years ago my girlfriends and I would gather for a give-away party where we'd bring clothes, jewelry, household items, etc., to trade with one another. Each of us would always find a treasure in someone else's lot and we made it a fun social gathering to boot! Get together with moms and dads from the neighborhood, coworkers, or use your
Life Makeover Group to organize a "Trade Treasures" party.
3.
Donate - This is a great time to go through clothes or household items with an eye for sharing the wealth with those in need. We all have things that we no longer use that could be life changing for someone else. Your old suits or dresses could give someone a new outfit for a job interview. Your used washing machine may be a blessing in a family's life. By the way, we've had several community members write to say that when they donate used clothes they put a Grace Card or Self-Care Card in the pocket as a surprise gift for the person who gets it. I love that idea and will be doing it myself.
4.
Release Old Energy - Go through the files in your office or your contact list and let go of outdated resources, information, or old ideas. I've used this strategy for years to release the old energy tied to plans that fell through, goals that lost steam, or dreams that fizzled out because they needed to. Make the space for new business, great opportunities, or more creative ideas that make sense for who you are now.
A little spring cleaning goes a long way in making space for something great to enter your life. Consider this week's "Take Action Challenge" and enjoy a renewed sense of spaciousness and mental freedom!