For most of us in Gen Z, we are moving on to a new stage in life soon. For me, I will be graduating college. For you, it might be graduating high school and starting college, starting a new job, or continuing on to graduate school. Whichever your situation, this last year has taught us all that when we are forced to stay at home, we’re given the extra time to reflect on the things we have. So we should take this spring as an opportunity to prepare for that next step in our lives. A fresh start after everything that happened in the last year can be good for the mind and soul, so let’s get started on some spring cleaning.

First of all, spring cleaning actually serves as a de-stressor and therefore leads to better mental health overall. A survey performed by the University College London found that those struggling with stress and mental health had positive results from cleaning. After this year with the ongoing pandemic, I’m sure that everyone could use a less stressful 2021. 

Need another reason to spring clean? It helps you become more productive. A 2011 survey from Office Max found that 77% of Americans agree that clutter weighs them down and decreases their production levels. In the age of working from home, taking care of your space could make the difference between stressing about work to actually completing your tasks. 

This reset doesn’t just have to be for your closet; it can also include old technology that you don’t use anymore, old textbooks or books that you have already read, or even deep scrubbing your floors. For whichever area you are cleaning, start with emptying the space completely. Take out all the clothes and throw them on your bed. Take out all the old books and technological devices and start placing things into piles of keep, donate, and throw away. 

Now that you have divided your three piles, you can decide whether you’re up to make some extra cash. With the pile you deemed appropriate to donate, you can choose to either donate or sell on an app like Poshmark or Depop. This extra cash can help you pay for that next stage in life, or it can help if you just need a little more money in your pocket. Depending on how much clothing you decide to sell, it could become profitable and spark up some excitement, especially if you enjoy thrift flipping. You could also take on a new project by upgrading them and then selling them for more profit. 

Happy spring cleaning!