Life Just Got... Spring Makeover 101

Mother Nature is teasing us with warm temps and glorious sun-filled days. It thrills the body and the mind to see convertibles, baby strollers and wagging tails making their way up Mt. Vernon Avenue. Seems as if each ray of sunshine and fresh bloom adds a bounce to our step, and our energy levels rise exponentially. A subconscious memo is transmitted to our brain, “Summer will be here soon, and summer equals FUN!—Best to get our projects down now!” The snow shovel is replaced with a weed whacker and the fresh mulch is purchased. DIY’ers pull up to Executive Hardware in herds. And so our season of renewal begins…

Nothing says makeover like a fresh coat of paint—whether it’s on a fence or a bedroom wall—it just feels good. Perhaps, however, you need to do a little clearing and cleaning first if you can’t get to the paint brushes or see the walls due to the pile of clothes and boxes that arrived after Mom’s passing five years ago. And we all know how that clutter multiplies and breeds when left to its own devices. Here are a few tried and true tips to help you break through winter’s lethargy for a more organized you:

1) Start with a goal (a room or a project). Remember—be specific to be terrific.  “Being more organized” isn’t a great goal, but “organizing the guest room” is.

2) Create a plan around your goal or goals. Create milestones and break your goal into bite-sized tasks to move yourself toward it. For example, if your goal is to clear out the guest bedroom, some targets might be to move the boxes out into the garage; select a color and paint the walls; clean the carpet; and buy new bed linens.

3) Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Be sure your goals are realistic and work with your schedule. Don’t expect miracles—this is a positive, makeover project not an excuse to beat yourself up. Remember—those piles didn’t appear overnight.

4) Add some fun to the mix. Make cleaning out the garage a party, not a death march. Turn on the music, order some pizza and enlist the help of others. Promise a tool exchange after with your neighbors. Be creative—if you’re cleaning out your closets, dress in your finest 80s workout gear, invoke your inner Jane Fonda and dance your way through it.

5) Reward yourself with a fun new accessory for your room or an ice cream sundae for all your efforts. Of course, we all know the real reward is in the finished project, an organized space.