As springtime ushers in flowers and warm winds, it’s the perfect time to refresh our surroundings and declutter our lives. The

term ‘spring cleaning’ refers to the thorough and deep cleaning of a room or a house that occurs in the springtime. However, spring cleaning isn’t just about dusting shelves or scrubbing the floor, it’s also a chance to renew our minds.

“When I clean my house, it helps me declutter my mind. When I delete all the photos on my phone or simply clean my room, including getting all the little crevices and corners I normally don’t get, it helps me feel clean and refreshed for spring,” said Aishwarya Vekhande (‘24).

The simple acts of clearing out photos or even tidying up a desk brings a sense of cleanliness and renewal, perfectly fitting for the spring season. For others, the act of planning ahead for events helps declutter the busy schedules many students have. 

“When it comes to decluttering my mind for school or life in general, I like to plan what I’m going to do beforehand so I know exactly when to do certain things. It just helps me be clear-minded so I know what to expect and not get cluttered by too many thoughts and things to do,” said Amy Chen (‘27).

However, the process of decluttering isn’t always easy, especially when it comes to throwing out and letting go of things. Like Kiera Lai (‘24), many others can also find it daunting to throw away items with sentimental value.

“A few years back, I decided to throw away a huge trash bag full of things. I decided to let go of some of the things I didn’t use anymore. In doing so, I learned that the process of cleaning doesn’t just make my room nicer, but it also cleans out my mind. However, I was scared that I would lose something important and something meaningful,” said Lai.

Still, it’s important to clean out aspects of our lives whether that may be physically or figuratively. 

“Decluttering is important because it’s a way for you to start anew and refresh. Spring cleaning isn’t just about tidying up your space, it’s a way to embrace the new both on the outside and inside our minds as well,” said Nathaniel Hong (‘26).

Spring cleaning can be a great way to declutter our lives and start afresh. There is a profound truth in spring cleaning: our environment and surroundings have an influential role on our mental health and well-being.

“It’s cool how the simple task of cleaning your room up a little can make you feel focused and have a good mindset,” said Chen. “Your environment affects how you feel and think. When your environment is clean and not so cluttered, it helps with having a very focused and clear mind, especially as we transition to spring.”