15 Ways To Spring-Clean Your Mind

A Note from the Editors: At The Attic we are always sensitive to the world around us, and while we can’t solve the current crisis, we hope to remain a source of calm and comforting escape for our readers. Our content may be less frequent at the moment, but will remain more or less the same in coverage and style. Our submissions will remain open for anyone wishing to take part.

Photos by Eliza Campbell.

The world looks pretty scary right now. We’re in the midst of a global pandemic and no one seems to quite know what is an over-reaction and what is an under-reaction considering the confusing and sometimes contrary nature of the advice given by various governments. Here at The Attic, our hearts go out to everyone who is at a high level of risk from the virus, currently under quarantine, or attempting to get back to their families. 

Out in the Northern Hemisphere it’s springtime, and the flowers are growing and the trees and hedgerows will be starting to bloom with promises of extra light in the evenings. In these dark times, it’s important to keep that promise of spring near and dear to you, so today I’m going to give you fifteen things you can do almost immediately (or at least very soon) to spring-clean your mind and practice a little self-care in such a strange and unsettling time.

For You Right Now

1. Straighten your spine and take a deep, slow breath.

2. Put down your phone or turn yourself away from whatever screen you’re using and pay attention to your body. Is there something it needs? Are you hungry? Do you need to stretch your legs? Do you need a glass of water?

3. Speaking of water, do you have a bottle or glass of fresh water near you? If you don’t, go and fill one up.

4. If you’re currently working or have a surface near you that’s untidy, do your best to tidy and clean it. This can be just as simple as sorting similar things into small piles.

5. Make sure you’ve not got too many screens going at once if you can help it. How many of us have our phones by our desk or when we’re watching TV to reflexively check Twitter and Instagram? Give your brain a break and try to focus on just one screen for a while, or put them away completely.

For You in the Near-Future

1. Think about the things you have to get done today. Grab some paper and a pen and write down those things. This can be in order of importance or in chronological order, just give yourself a structure for your day that’s hopefully realistic.

2. Plan when you’re going to have your meals and try to stick to that time. This might not be easy for everyone but try to make an hour or two-hour slot where you try to eat so your day holds more familiarity.

3. Clean out your phone by deleting apps you never use and pictures you don’t want to keep. You can also change your lock screen.

4. Check your phone’s screen time. If your eyes pop out of your skull, then that’s okay because most phones offer tools to help you cut down on using apps and features.

5. Aim for a specific bed-time so you can plan your evening around that time. Don’t force yourself into bed at 9 p.m. but try to listen to your body’s natural rhythm. If your body is telling you that 2 a.m. is the best time to sleep, then listen but gently push that to 1:45 a.m. and keep going each night until you’re sleeping at a better time.

For You in the Long-Run

1. Try to do  some gentle exercise. As cliché as it is, yoga is great at grounding your mind and body in the same place. Try it once and see how you feel after a 10 or 20 minute practice, if it’s not your thing, then don’t worry. I can’t recommend Yoga with Adriene’s channel on YouTube enough. Her videos are extremely welcoming for all levels and body types. I recommend this 5 minute video, this 20 minute flow, and this 30 minute sequence for anxiety.

2. Make plans to cook a meal from scratch. Get the recipe and the ingredients and work methodically through the steps. This can be particularly grounding if you leave your phone in another room but you can listen to music or a podcast if you want to. I would advise against watching something on a screen, though.

3. Clean out your wardrobe. This is a job that most of us don’t often have the time to get around to but if you’re suddenly finding yourself with a strange amount of free time, get to that job right now! I promise you you’ll never wear that purple jumper from when you were 16, put it in a donation bag to deliver to a charity shop when the world gets back to normal.

4. You might be missing your friends! Reach out to them first and set up a video call or a phone call for sometime in the near future. Get through it together, even if you’re many miles apart.

5. Try a craft or hobby that you’ve been meaning to start or re-start for ages. Knitting, embroidery, cooking, baking, sewing,... ground yourself by working with your hands and concentrating on something smaller than the manic world of social media.

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Eliza Campbell is Culture Editor at the Attic on Eighth. When she’s not reading, writing, or in a rehearsal room she loves to sit in galleries, libraries, and coffee shops listening to period drama soundtracks and watching the world go by.