If you are considering a deep clean of your house this spring, you are not alone. Many people feel they should clean when the weather gets warmer; and now with the COVID-19 pandemic, that urge is even stronger.
Does It “Spark Joy”?
Marie Kondo, best-selling author of The Magic Art of Tidying Up and host of the popular Netflix series Tidying Up, expressed in a recent interview:
- This “is a challenging and uncertain time, but it may also be an opportunity to express gratitude for your space and to tidy up if you’ve been wanting to.”
Kondo is famous for her singular criteria in deciding what to keep and what to let go of when organizing. She asks one question: “Does it spark joy?”
While Kondo’s methodology involves leaving sentimental items until the end of the organizing process, now is not just any time. Now might be precisely the time to pull out those boxes of memorabilia or to dust off that jewelry box tucked away in a drawer. Certainly, this year, there is good motivation to clean:
- 1. Keeping our houses disinfected lowers our risk of contracting COVID-19.
- 2. Cleaning can protect those we love. Studies prove that cleaner spaces increase our productivity, improve our stress levels and influence nutritional choices.
While spring-cleaning might yield many benefits, many find themselves currently with extra obligations or less energy than normal. So, how should you handle spring-cleaning in a pandemic? Focus on what brings joy and what increases a sense of connection to other people.
People Need Connection as Much as They Need Order Right Now
We need to remember what is beautiful in the world. Remembering what is beautiful might mean going out for a walk, or it could be as simple as opening a jewelry box. Most if not all of the items in your jewelry collection will be connected to significant people or events in your life — that time you took a trip to Europe, your graduation ring, the brooch from your great-grandmother … Many times, these special pieces sit in storage, waiting for a special occasion.
Creatively Display Your Jewelry, or Refashion Your Family Heirlooms
An afternoon spent reorganizing your jewelry and family heirlooms might be more important this spring than cleaning light fixtures. While you are at it, don’t be afraid to be creative if that brings you joy. Many studies demonstrate how creativity favorably influences mental health. Can you creatively display your jewelry to remind you of positive memories? Is there a piece of jewelry you could redesign to make it more wearable? Do you have some jewelry you’ve been meaning to have repaired? Now is a perfect time to get around to these tasks.
If you are up for spring-cleaning this year, let go of the expectations of perfection. Focus on what is beautiful. Focus on what connects you to others. Focus on what brings you joy.
Spring is a time of new beginnings and fresh starts. If you have jewelry in need of repair or a piece you’d like to refashion to give it a fresh start, contact My Jewelry Repair today.