Midterms are almost upon us at many colleges and universities and with that comes stress that manifests in a variety of ways. I’ve been a college professor for 30 years, and just this semester I’ve created a brand-new course titled “Adulting.” The overarching theme of the class is about how to more intentionally and passionately craft an artful, meaningful, and deep life.
To best support these goals, there are certain daily, weekly, and monthly habits that students can cultivate. One of these is to think about ways to make and create more space in one’s immediate surroundings, relationships, and dreams and visions.
One of the most pivotal and powerful paradigm shifts I ever had was in my 20s, when I started to think much more about the idea of spaciousness. Over the past few decades, spaciousness has become a core value and practice of mine and one I try to share with my students. It informs how I make decisions of all kinds, both personal and professional, it shapes my sense of relationships, and it guides how I inhabit the world.
‘ve learned to say yes to things and people that help me create space in my life, and I turn down opportunities that inhibit spaciousness and therefore real growth, or that make my energy feel flatter and my life feel narrower and stifled.
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that, regardless of the size of the space in which I live (which has certainly varied greatly over the years), there are ways that we can create a feeling of greater spaciousness in our physical environments, which in turn gives us more breathing room and a sense of psychic space.
In this article, I will address a very practical habit that contributes to good physical and mental health, and that is keeping one’s living space clean and tidy. Creating outer order can assist in creating deeper inner order. Generally, we feel in a better mood in our spaces when they are calm-looking, and this is most certainly true when we return home from a long day. Even a tight, small dorm room can be a little oasis if it’s cared for, and it’s a good practice for anywhere a student lives in the future.
Here’s a list of 10 easy things for college students (or really anyone!) to do to make space and clear space:
- Get into a daily habit of putting things away so as to prevent clutter and to be able to more easily retrieve things later.
- Make your bed! It’s a huge element of a dorm room or other small space and makes a big difference in setting the tone of your day and putting you on a productive path. It also makes it more inviting to climb back into bed when it looks clean, fresh, and organized.
- Keep dirty laundry in a hamper or laundry bag, and commit to doing it one to two times a week. You’ll be glad you do this next time you sneeze into the elbow of your favorite sweatshirt! It’s important that students remember to change their linens and towels on a regular basis.
- Wash and put away dishes, tumblers, mugs, etc. By doing this, you’ll have clean stuff whenever you need it, and you’re likely to stay healthier as well.
- Make it more fun to clean up! Grab your roommates and suitemates, play great music, sing, dance, and clean up, even if for just ten minutes a day. When you’re engaged in good conversation or having fun, the time goes by faster, and suddenly, rather than feeling burdened by chores, you’ve created a positive association with them. After all, it’s about making your space the most livable.
- Keeping your space clean in a consistent way helps reduce pressure for when you want to invite people over and want it to be presentable and attractive. It’s a way to be kinder to yourself and your roommates.
- Cleaning wipes are super convenient when you want to simply and quickly refresh your space. But better for the environment would be buying a bottle of cleaning spray and using rags. This means, though, that you either have to wash the rags or toss them. Use Lysol spray, especially to prevent the spread of illness, and keep hand sanitizer handy.
- Clean your closet and get rid of clothes you no longer wear, that do not fit properly, or that don’t help you feel like your best self. Consider donating to a shelter, or if you have business attire in good condition, you can consider seeing if your college or university maintains a closet of clothes for students in need of items specifically for interviews, work, etc. Doing this will enlarge the space of your closet and will enlarge others’ opportunities. This is when we can think of order and organization far beyond ourselves, and as something good for our communities also.
- It’s also a good idea to clean and freshen things up after anyone in the room or suite is sick. For example, it’s crucial to change toothbrushes every month, and especially if you’ve been sick.
- Treat yourself to something for your space that reminds you in a more daily way of why you want to keep it neat. Perhaps, a piece of art, a special candle, a pillow, a cozy throw, a fun mug, or festive drink glasses. For me, it’s fresh flowers. Though I never grew up with fresh flowers around all the time, I’ve made it a habit to always have them in my home. At the grocery store, they even sell bunches for just four dollars, and it’s a small price to pay for a simple pleasure that brings nature inside and feels colorful and joyful.
