The spring semester is almost over, yet my spring cleaning remains untouched on my to-do list. Between classes, assignments, and a packed schedule, I have rarely been home. This has made it easy to ignore the mess that has accumulated in my apartment. Lately, when I’ve been home, I have had little time or energy to focus on cleaning.
Now that the semester is beginning to slow down, I have had to figure out how to tackle cleaning my space. Rather than viewing it as an overwhelming chore, I find a better, more realistic approach is to break it into smaller steps and see it as a reset for both my apartment and myself. I’m breaking down how I plan to tackle my own reset, which may be useful for anyone else trying to clean up their space as well.
The best place to start is with a plan. Instead of walking into my messy apartment and attempting to do everything at once, I will assess what tasks need to be done. Create a task list ranging from simple tasks, like putting away laundry, to more time-consuming deep cleaning projects. Creating a list might seem unnecessary at first, but it can make the entire process feel much more organized and far less overwhelming. Once I have a clear list of what needs to be accomplished, I decide on the order that makes the most sense. Before any actual cleaning, I prefer to begin with decluttering to create more space to work. Beginning by clearing surfaces and putting items back where they belong will make navigating the space much easier.
It is important to be realistic about how much time you can spend cleaning. Trying to deep-clean an entire apartment in one day is impossible without exhausting yourself, especially if you are still busy with other responsibilities. I will break the process into multiple days, focusing on one room or area at a time. For instance, I might dedicate one afternoon after class to doing laundry and organizing my closet, then spend the weekend deep cleaning my bedroom.
Once I have a sense of what needs to be done and when, the real challenge is actually getting started on cleaning. Listening to music, a podcast, or my favorite show on in the background can help pass the time and make repetitive tasks feel less like a chore. Additionally, beginning with a small task makes spring cleaning seem less intimidating. I find that initial progress builds my motivation, and I continue to do more, even larger tasks that I have been putting off.
The goal of a reset is not to create a perfect apartment; it is to make your space cleaner and more comfortable to live in. By approaching the process with a plan, breaking tasks into manageable parts, and finding ways to make the process less overwhelming, spring cleaning (even if it is long overdue) is achievable. Sometimes the most difficult part is not the cleaning itself, but the mindset needed to begin.