Reform Your Spring Cleaning: 30-Day Spring Cleaning Commitment
Reform Your Spring Cleaning
With longer days and warmer temperatures, Spring invites us to take inventory of our physical space to foster a spirit of simplicity, rhythm, and order within our homes. As St. Thomas Aquinas reminds us, “Peace is the enjoyment of order.” When there is order in our environment, we are better disposed to experience interior peace personally and in relationships with others. In contrast, chaotic and cluttered environments reflect a lack of peace in our interior. In this light, keeping a tidy home has meaning far beyond appearance or status. The home is where families are primarily prepared for Heaven; therefore, it should reflect a heavenly space conducive to finding the eternal in each day.
As nature's designs reveal, there are seasons for slowing down and dormancy of activity and seasons for renewal, new life, and increased energy and activity. So too for our own bodies, souls, and homes. This Spring, we invite you to join our Reform team and community for 30 days of reforming your spring cleaning throughout May. Together, we will approach the sometimes mundane and monotonous task of keeping a home with renewed meaning and purpose.
How to Reform Your Spring Cleaning:
Simplicity is the key to creating more space. When we focus on what is truly essential and eliminate the non-essentials, we have more room for the gifts that God wants to give us. These gifts are not just material but manifest in a spirit of peace and fullness of joy. Space is more precious than stuff.
We recommend intentionally planning when and how to accomplish each task. We are much more likely to complete something when allotted time in our calendar rather than hoping a window will open up amid our full schedules. You may also consider modifying the suggested task based on your own needs and capacity, such as delegating roles to family members or roommates, breaking larger projects into smaller goals throughout the week, starting with smaller or more manageable tasks first, or even spreading it out throughout the full season of Spring. Assigning a home to all belongings as you go and having a designated chore day each week will make it easier and more efficient to maintain an orderly space.
By working in designated time blocks, we can also take advantage of the brain’s natural attention and focus cycle. We suggest going “all in”--without multitasking– on a task for 90 minutes and then stepping away for a 30-minute break. This allows us to be fully present in the task at hand and to see it through to completion without distraction. You may also consider turning off notifications or setting a timer– it is amazing how much we can accomplish when we stay focused in a relatively short time window.
Why We Invite You to Participate in the Spring Cleaning Commitment:
Space for the Holy Spirit to Dwell in Our Midst: The Holy Spirit flees in disorder and distraction and rushes to stillness. Our bodies, minds, and souls crave order. When our homes are in order, our hearts can be more open and intentional in living for the Lord. Making space in our homes enables God’s plans to take over—and His ways are always better than ours. Whether we realize it or not, a lack of space in our lives obstructs us from living life to the fullest and receiving peace, healing, and connection with God and our loved ones. A clean home with less clutter is easier to keep clean, and things are easier to find when we need them (including restoration and peace!).
Save Money, Live Intentionally: By reducing purchases and avoiding buying unnecessary items, you are less likely to purchase a duplicate of something you already have or that will just fill additional space in the home. Eliminating excess or unnecessary belongings help us to see more clearly the things we should invest in to serve a specific purpose in our space.
Reduce Stress, Increase Peace: A clean and decluttered home invites you to sit, rest, read, and spend time with the people you love. It’s also calming to know where things are when you need them. Reducing clutter can remove dozens of little stressors that disrupt our days and disturb our peace.
With more space and order in our lives, we have a greater capacity to handle stress, cultivate deeper relationships with our friends and family, and the freedom to grow closer to God. We hope this challenge is one the whole family can participate in together to cultivate a heavenly environment collectively. You may also consider sharing this article with a friend or small group who can join you in this season of reforming your spring cleaning. May we be united in our desire to create homes that are a reprieve from the world and a place where we are comforted, nourished, safe, and renewed.
