When people think of April, they tend to think of all things spring: Easter, baby animals, flowers, and spring cleaning! Whilst spring cleaning can be an intimidating task, it is a great opportunity to organise your life in preparation for summer.
For my fellow students, spring cleaning is also a great opportunity to become organised for the hectic month of May when deadlines lie in wait. Spring cleaning doesn’t just have to be about vacuuming your house or cleaning out your wardrobe – there are lots of other ways to get organised this April that will make such a difference to your life!
1. Buy a planner
I know it may be easy to just use the calendar app on your phone to jot down deadlines, but I find that having a physical planner or diary makes a world of difference. The process of writing down important dates or tasks instantly makes me remember them more clearly, and studies have shown that if you write down your goals, you are 42% more likely to achieve them! Another benefit of keeping a physical diary is that it can help you visualise your time and schedule in the correct amount of time to complete your assignments.
2. Create a monthly budget
Completing small financial checks at the start of the month can be an excellent way to ensure your monthly spending fits your monthly income. Whether that be from a part-time job or a student loan, it is essential to get into the habit of tracking your bank balance. Do a quick sweep this April to make sure all bills have been paid or scheduled appropriately, as this will make the rest of the month a lot more relaxed! You could even account for fun activities such as getting a takeaway when calculating your budget.
3. Clean your car (if you have one!)
If you have a car, then you will know how easy it is for the rubbish to pile up and before you know it, your car is just a bin on wheels! Take some time this spring season to give your car a thorough clean out, I’m talking vacuuming the upholstery, polishing the dashboard and getting rid of any and all McDonald’s wrappers! Whilst this job might seem like a considerable effort, it is extremely satisfying once completed, so I urge you to give it a go.
4. Digital detox
They say that a tidy room makes for a tidy mind, and I would say the exact same thing for your phones and laptops. Completing a digital cleanse can be just as satisfying as cleaning out your wardrobe. Most of our devices are cluttered with apps we don’t use anymore, photos that need to be deleted and contacts who we haven’t texted in years! Take some time this spring to get rid of all the junk in your virtual trunk!
5. Try new recipes
Heading into a new season usually means your diet shifts as we crave different types of food according to our daily activities and the changes in weather. In the spring there is a whole host of fresh fruits and vegetables that come into season so why not take some time to find some new recipes to try this spring! Pinterest is a great source of inspiration for fun new meals to try and if you want to be extra organised then why not make a list of all the dishes you want to make!