Mental Spring Cleaning: Prepare Your Mind for New Growth

Spring is a season of possibility. It’s a time when the world softens, opens up, and begins again. It’s the season for the infamous spring cleaning of our homes and physical spaces. But how often do we give ourselves that same permission—to clear, to grow, to bloom? We clean out closets, open windows, and plant fresh herbs… but what about our minds?

This season, let’s talk about spring cleaning your mental space. Let’s explore ways to lighten your cognitive load and plant seeds of peace. (Cue the “om” and singing bowl background noises!)

1) Let Go of Mental Clutter

We all collect mental “junk” whether in the form of old worries, outgrown narratives, or habits that no longer serve us. Spring is the perfect time to ask: What am I carrying that I no longer need? To get to the bottom of this, it can be helpful to bust out the handy-dandy journal.

• Write down the thoughts that keep looping in your head.
• Label the unhelpful beliefs you’ve outgrown.
• Create space by forgiving someone, or forgiving yourself. (This one is tough, coming from someone who holds onto grudges against anyone who has wronged my loved ones, long after the victim has forgotten about it. I never forget. I will hate someone on someone else’s behalf forever.)

Challenging as it may be to let these things go, mental clutter takes energy to hold on to. Releasing it is like opening a window and letting fresh air in. Fresh air that is completely free of pollen. Hopefully.

2) Refresh Your Routine

Winter might have slowed you down (and maybe that was necessary). But now is a great time to gently refresh your daily rhythms.

• Start your mornings with sunlight and deep, calming breaths.
• Add a short walk outside before or after work. (Yes, a dumb mental health walk for our dumb mental health. It works, though, to my depression goblin’s chagrin.)
• Try one small “happy habit” like stretching, journaling, or drinking lemon water.

New routines don’t have to be big. Even tiny shifts can spark big feelings of renewal. Think about the tiny little seedlings that sprout up in your garden. Small, seemingly insignificant, but with the potential for gorgeous growth!

3) Spend Time With the Earth

Spring invites us outdoors, and that’s no coincidence. Nature can dramatically improve your mental health. Studies show that time in green spaces reduces stress, anxiety, and depression.

• Sit under a tree and do absolutely nothing. (I’ve been into the concept of tree spirits recently. Maybe you can bond with one and gain its favor!)
• Garden or adopt a plant child, even if it’s just a small potted plant on your windowsill. We have over 60 houseplants, and each one has its own name and personality.
• Take your shoes off and feel the ground beneath you. Really feel it, and reap the benefits of grounding (otherwise known as earthing) while you’re at it.

Let the earth remind you that you, too, are allowed to bloom slowly and beautifully. In the wise words of Mulan Fa’s father:

“Look, this blossom is late. But I’ll bet that when it blooms, it will be the most beautiful of all.”

We love a supportive father figure, don’t we?

4) Declutter Your Digital Life

Mental clutter isn’t just internal. It can come from our phones, inboxes, and endless scrolling.

• Unfollow accounts that drain your energy. (Especially if those accounts made you follow them without your consent. Ahem. #iykyk)
• Clean out your inbox and delete old apps. Honestly, when’s the last time you used your MyInvisalign app?
• Designate screen-free hours, especially in the morning and before bed. That pesky blue light wreaks havoc on our circadian rhythms.

Your mind deserves moments of silence. Make room for them.

5) Replant What You Want to Grow

Now that you’ve cleared space, what do you want to grow?

• Joy?
• Peace?
• Curiosity?
• Focus?
• Self-acceptance?

Write it down. Speak it out loud. Set the intention. Manifest it into reality. You’re the gardener of your mind, and spring is the time to replant, with love.

It’s Spring Cleaning Time, but for Your Mind

This season, don’t just clean your home—clear your head. Don’t just refresh your wardrobe—refresh your soul. Let go, plant something new, and trust that the best kind of growth happens slowly, over time.

Your mind is a garden. This spring, give it the care it deserves.