Time for a (life) spring clean

The sun is shining and you’ve finally shaken off winter, packed away your heaviest coat, and flung some windows open. But it is not just our homes that need a spruce up for the new season. Our habits and routines also need examining in the fresh light of spring.

As Sarah Knight explains in her book, The Life Changing Magic of Not Giving A F*ck, we all have three key resources that we burn through every day: our time, our money, and our energy. Crucially, these aren't unlimited supplies: by saying 'yes' and spending our time, money or energy on one thing, it will inevitably mean we can't spend it on something else.

Take this opportunity to check that you’re spending your resources in the right places as you head into a new season of social plans, holidays, and work stresses. Who or what is taking up your valuable resources that doesn’t deserve them? What’s been neglected while you’ve been hunkering down indoors through the winter? Here are three steps to help you spot your own personal resource drains and redirect your time, money and energy to have the biggest impact.   

Time, money, energy

Time is precious. Who wouldn’t love another couple of hours in the day? Try going through your typical weekly schedule day by day. Which activities take up the bulk of your time? What do you do in small chunks that adds up over a week? Looking through your list, where are you spending more time than you’d like - and what’s being neglected? Think about where you could outsource some of these activities, politely say 'no thanks' to future requests, or consolidate similar tasks into a weekly or monthly chunk. 

Money is feeling tight, more so now than ever. Get honest with yourself about what you’ve spent in the last couple of months. Are you prone to an occasional (OK, regular) splurge? Or are there daily drains like coffee, travel, and lunches on the go? Checking your bank statements is a helpful reminder of the hidden costs you might overlook.

Looking at your spending, which bits brought you joy? Are there any items that you could have reduced or cut completely without noticing much of an impact? Boost your motivation by identifying exactly where you'd like to redirect these funds - perhaps a savings pot for an important future purchase, or towards a new hobby. 

Energy is something we often overlook, but it’s so crucial. Whether you’re a night owl or a morning lark, most of us will have some time in the day when we’re awake but not firing on all cylinders: we’ve got time, but no energy to maximise it. Where are your energy peaks and troughs throughout the day? Which tasks and people are getting your best (or worst) energy? Think about ways you could adjust your schedule to accommodate for this, or take moments in the day to boost your energy: regular meals, plenty of water, exercise, or a quiet moment.   

Tipping the scales

We rarely have an even split of these resources: at certain stages of our lives we’ll tend to have more time, or money, or energy. So don’t pressure yourself to perfect the balance - it doesn’t exist! Instead, try to spot one or two small changes in your routine that will help you focus on the things that you want to achieve this season.