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Returning home to my flat recently after 4 months away, I was struck by how much ‘stuff’ I have. I’d been living with just 3 jumpers, 2 pairs of jeans, a fleece, and plenty of workout clothes (and a washing machine, in case you were wondering!) for those months, having packed in a hurry to move to be near a dying family member. I live in a small flat without much storage space, and like many people, had a massive clear out during the first lockdown, so I was surprised on my return to see with a fresh pair of eyes how many things I still have that I really don’t need. I expected that coming back to a wardrobe full of clothes would be a welcome change, but it actually felt a bit overwhelming. I don’t need all this stuff!
Is there 'stuff' you don’t need any longer? As we emerge from lockdown into spring, as we start to open up again, and our lives once again change and perhaps gets busier, what things, habits or thoughts would it help you to let go of? It’s time for a spring clean!
Material stuff
Clothes that no longer fit or make you feel good– some people hold on to clothes that no longer fit in the hope that ‘one day’ they’ll be able to squeeze back in, but does that really help? Or does it just make you feel guilty that you’re not the body shape you want to be, keep you stuck in the past, increasing your shame and negative feelings, which in turn make you less likely to take positive action?
Are you holding on to possessions that perhaps bring back bad memories that it might be time to let go of?
Clutter – having less stuff around you has been shown to help with stress, anxiety, and physical wellbeing (and makes dusting a bit less tedious!). What else can you get rid of, or at least put away?
Habits and routines
Another observation I had coming back was how easily I had adopted new habits and routines. In just a few months away, living with a kitchen where the bin was under the sink, coming back to my flat where I’ve lived for 14 years and which has a separate bin, I still keep opening the sink cupboard to look for the bin. All it had taken was 4 months of routine to undo a habit of 14 years!
What habits and routines have you adopted during lockdown that you either know serve you well and you want to make sure you incorporate into your life going forward? Or what habits do you need to let go off?
Are there habits you had from before lockdown that you want to make sure you don’t fall back into once life opens up again?
It’s really worth thinking about. Now is a unique opportunity to consciously think about how you want to live your life going forward. Habits can and do change. They take a bit of effort at first, but soon they become automatic, so if there’s something you really want to change, put in that effort and you’ll soon notice the impact.
Thoughts
This is a biggie! What thoughts no longer serve you? What limiting beliefs do you hold about yourself where you tell yourself you can’t do something, or you’re not worthy of something? These aren’t always so easy to let go off, but with time, it can be done. We’re often invested emotionally in holding on to them for deeper reasons than we may be aware of. We have different voices in our head, different parts of us that serve us at different times, but we can amplify the voices that serve us in a positive way by becoming more aware of all our voices, all our parts, and practising tuning in to those that support us.
Spend some time journalling to start to notice the different voices in your head. Don’t censor what you write, just let it flow, and see what comes out. What are you telling yourself? Being aware of what you’re thinking and feeling will help you start to change. Awareness is always the first step to successful change.
Name your wins. For the next month, every night before you go to bed, list 3 simple wins that you had that day. For example, you got the kids off to school, you got a report in on time, you ate a healthy lunch. They don’t have to be big or ground-breaking. In fact, tuning into some of the smaller wins that we regularly achieve can help us to realise just how much we succeed each day without us noticing or giving ourselves credit for.
Show up as the person you want to be, not the person you feel you ought to be or that you think others want you to be. Others may have expectations of you that you no longer wish to fulfil. Or the experiences of lockdown and the pandemic may have changed you, your values and your interests. Hold on to the authentic you. There is no need to let go of that. You only need to let go of the pressure to be someone other than who you truly are. Have the courage to show up in life as you.
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