• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Lykens Companies

Short North Apartments for Rent in Columbus

  • Available Rentals
  • COMING SOON
  • Short Term Rentals
  • COMMUNITIES
  • Blog
  • TENANT LOGIN
  • About Us
    • Contact

The 5 Best Ways to Tackle Spring Cleaning (Plus, Why Most People Never Get Started)

April 2, 2018 by

In this blog, all photos were taken by Matthew Garsky (@matthewgarsky).


Winter is finally gone—though we’ve lived in Ohio long enough to know that might not be the case. Either way, springtime means that spring cleaning is right around the corner, if not here already. For some, spring cleaning just feels like another weekend of tidying up. For others, well…not so much.

Wherever you find yourself—whether a total mess or a clean freak—Lykens Companies has tips to make spring cleaning more fun, more effective, and more long lasting than ever.

1. Game plan with goals

Especially if you’re on the messy side, it can be overwhelming (at best) to approach spring cleaning. We always have more stuff to clean than we expected and getting started can be the worst part. It makes sense why that’s the case. A messy apartment actually triggers stress hormones in your brain chemistry, according to researchers. It’s the reason why leaving a mess where it is can seem so appealing, while taking 5 minutes to clean it up can be the most daunting task of your life.

To combat this, you need to create a list of simple and straightforward tasks. When creating these goals, think S.M.A.R.T. Your goals should be specific, measureable, achievable, relevant and time-bound.

Most people never get started spring cleaning because they overwhelm themselves with vague tasks. If you don’t have any idea of what to do, how to do it, and when it needs to be done, then you’ll end up as aimless as a hiker without a map and compass. Do yourself a favor. Grab yourself a pen and a piece of paper and game plan before spring cleaning.

With that in mind, here’s an example of a terrible goal:

  • Clean the house.

Why is this goal so bad? It’s overwhelming, non-specific, and unachievable—especially for those of us who aren’t, well, cleaning-prone.

Here’s an example of a somewhat better goal:

  • Clean the kitchen this weekend.

Now we’re getting more specific. At least we have a general idea of what we’re setting out to do and when we want to do it, but this is still vague enough that it will be hard to achieve.

Here’s a great goal:

  • Clear the kitchen counter of mail and dishes, wipe it down, and reorganize it by 12 pm on Saturday.

Even the sloppiest person could get this done. This goal meets all of the criteria and leaves nothing to the imagination. There’s a clear understanding of what would complete the goal and what wouldn’t. No gray area. Just black and white.

Spring cleaning doesn't have to be a drag this year. In 2018, work smarter, not harder, and optimize your spring cleaning with Lykens Companies 5 methods and tricks for getting the most out of spring cleaning. Located in Columbus, Ohio, Lykens Companies serves Columbus, Ohio's urban core with an eye toward historical preservation and restoration. We are deeply involved in the Short North, Victorian Village, Italian Village, Olde Towne East, and Weiland Park communities.

For those of us who need help figuring out how to decide our spring cleaning goals, think about some of the following questions:

  1. Which rooms in the house need cleaning? Bedroom? Garage? Bathroom?
  2. Which parts of those rooms need cleaning? Be specific! Think counters, closets, and cupboards.
  3. How can I clean them? Reorganizing? Throwing things away? Disinfecting?
  4. Are there any cleaning tools or supplies that I’ll need for spring cleaning that I can order on Amazon today?
  5. What date and time will I finish each goal by?

Systematically answering these questions will yield a number of great goals that you’ll be sure to complete. You won’t just have a more effective spring cleaning than ever before, but we bet that you’ll end up feeling more accomplished than ever.

 2. Stagger

Too many people try to lump all of spring cleaning into one day. Look, this isn’t Christmas. When you think about spring cleaning, really emphasize the “spring” part. Think of this as a season of cleaning up and reorganizing, not just a single day.

After you create your goals, stagger them. You’re much more likely to achieve every goal if you try and do one every Saturday instead of trying to do all of them on a single Saturday. It’s less overwhelming and you’ll increase your chances of turning cleanliness and organization into a healthy habit.

 3. Don’t just reorganize

Recently, Lykens Companies wrote a blog on why less is more, pushing for a simple-living movement. Most of us have more than we need—more clothes, more kitchen supplies, more books. You name it! If you’re like me, your tendency is to horde what you have.

“But what if I need this?” I ask myself about one of the 10 flashlights I own and have never used. This isn’t a reasonable attitude. You aren’t just overcrowding your living space; you’re being selfish. Rather than hide your extra stuff in the back of a storage closet, consider donating it to those who are less fortunate.

Spring cleaning doesn't have to be a drag this year. In 2018, work smarter, not harder, and optimize your spring cleaning with Lykens Companies 5 methods and tricks for getting the most out of spring cleaning. Located in Columbus, Ohio, Lykens Companies serves Columbus, Ohio's urban core with an eye toward historical preservation and restoration. We are deeply involved in the Short North, Victorian Village, Italian Village, Olde Towne East, and Weiland Park communities.
Nothing feels better than a clean bedroom.

When people adopt this lifestyle, they quickly experience the joy that comes from being generous. Additionally, it seems that those who give away their extra stuff conclude that they actually don’t need that much to be happy.

Helping people while making your home tidier? Win-Win.

4. Never work alone

Unless you’re someone who finds refreshment and a sort of meditation from cleaning by yourself (and, no, that wasn’t sarcastic), it can be great fun to include friends and family in on your spring cleaning adventures. You can enjoy the convenience and effectiveness of delegation while getting to spend some extra hours with loved ones. Blast music, get to work, and always buy everyone pizza afterwards.

5. Reward yourself

 Spring cleaning is a reward in itself: you end up with a super tidy apartment that looks great! But sometimes that’s not enough. This stuff is hard work. Why not throw a little extra incentive into the mix? Hang a carrot in front of yourself and get to work. Think about something you’ve wanted to treat yourself with and decide what steps you need to take to earn that reward.

For instance, if there’s a nice dinner you’ve wanted to treat yourself to, then, by all means, do so if you decide that it’s a fitting prize. Just make sure you’re actually getting things done. Create another goal that ends with you earning your reward. Here are a couple examples:

  • If I complete 10 goals this month, then I’m going to celebrate with a nice dinner.
  • If I give away 5 pairs of shoes that I never wear, I’m going to buy that bottle of wine I’ve been eyeing.
  • If I clean once a week for two months, then I’m getting those concert tickets.

This fun element might just give you the extra motivation to jump into spring cleaning sooner rather than later.

Spring cleaning doesn't have to be a drag this year. In 2018, work smarter, not harder, and optimize your spring cleaning with Lykens Companies 5 methods and tricks for getting the most out of spring cleaning. Located in Columbus, Ohio, Lykens Companies serves Columbus, Ohio's urban core with an eye toward historical preservation and restoration. We are deeply involved in the Short North, Victorian Village, Italian Village, Olde Towne East, and Weiland Park communities.

Get started now

We covered the best way to get started on spring cleaning: make your goals. Wherever you are, make 5 goals that you can complete within a month. Spring cleaning can be fun and refreshing. Why wait to get started?


 

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedinShare on Pinterest

Filed Under: For Tenants, Lifestyle

More Posts

Big Dog, Small Apartment: How to Make It Work

Woodhouse Vegan Dishes on Their New Location in Italian Village

The Short North Arts District With Kids – Where to Eat, Where to Go

We Planned Out Your Entire Day Near Your Italian Village Apartment

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Big Dog, Small Apartment: How to Make It Work March 16, 2020
  • Woodhouse Vegan Dishes on Their New Location in Italian Village March 9, 2020
  • The Short North Arts District With Kids – Where to Eat, Where to Go February 20, 2020
  • We Planned Out Your Entire Day Near Your Italian Village Apartment February 10, 2020
  • The Most Unique 2020 Valentine’s Day Date Night Ideas in Columbus February 7, 2020

Categories

  • Available Properties (34)
  • Budd Dairy (11)
  • Careers (1)
  • Design (11)
  • Featured Businesses (27)
  • Fitness (4)
  • For Tenants (37)
  • Gallery Hop (5)
  • Heating and Cooling (4)
  • History (7)
  • Lifestyle (52)
  • Partnerships (5)
  • Projects (23)
  • Property Management (18)
  • Renovations (14)
  • Restaurants (13)
  • Short North (63)
  • Short-Term Rentals (1)
  • Tenant Highlights (1)
  • Uncategorized (11)
  • Wonder Bread Lofts (10)

Tags

24/7 1175 n. high street 2017 advice apartments in columbus art business feature campus christmas columbus columbus apartments Columbus OH columbus ohio columbus ohio apartments decorating DIY fitness gallery hop guide gym holiday hop holidays home decoration Italian village lifestyle local local business lykens paint and sip painting pallet partnership pet friendly apartments columbus pet friendly apartments victorian village Pinterest projects renting renting apartment shops short north Short North Columbus small business snap Studio 614 tenant discount

STAY UP TO DATE

Sign up to receive updates when new properties go online!

Enter your e-mail below to subscribe
to our monthly newsletter.

The e-mail is not valid. Please try again.

Thank you for subscribing. You will be among the first to know about new offers, features and special projects.
Stay tuned.

Sign Up For Our Monthly Newsletter

Stay in the know about community happenings, important info for tenants, and our hottest rentals you'll love.

This field is required.

This field is required.

The e-mail address entered is invalid.

Thank you for subscribing. You will be among the first to know about new offers, features and special projects.
Stay tuned.

Footer

For two decades, Lykens Companies has offered Columbus, Ohio residents the best apartments and rentals in the Short North, Italian Village, Victorian Village, and other nearby neighborhoods. With an eye toward historical renovation, Lykens Companies’s development prioritizes urban renewal. How can we help find you the perfect home today?

Connect with us on:

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Contact Lykens Companies

    • About Us
    • Communities
    • Available Rentals
    • Specials
    • MAINTENANCE REQUEST
    • Sitemap
    • TENANT LOGIN
    • Contact Us

    Copyright © 2023 · Lykens Companies · All Rights Reserved
    Privacy Policy