Ready to clear out those mental cobwebs?!

What is it about spring that compels us to clean out our closets?  Is it simply a desire to pack up the snow pants and bring on the shorts and flip flops?  Or is there something deeper going on, like a desire to refresh and renew just like the spring flowers you planted in the fall. 
 
Spring cleaning has been linked to religious and cultural rituals from the distant past, but really it may simply be that we're emerging from our Winter cocoon and realizing we let the house go a bit while we binged watched the latest Netflix series!  
 
Regardless of what drives you, Spring is a great time for clearing out the old and contemplating the new.  But before you rush out and buy the latest organizer espoused by the home shopping network, take time to consider another type of spring cleaning, mental cleaning.  
 
Remember those nagging New Year's Resolutions!  Many of you have given up on them by now and allowed those old familiar habits to fill up your "mental closet" again.  Well, Spring is the perfect time to recommit to those amazing changes you pledged to make this year. However, rather than opening your mental closet and letting it all fall out at once, try removing those bad habits one at a time by keeping it simple. 
 
Research by Stanford University professor BJ Fogg identifies three key factors that facilitate behavior change;  
    1. Motivation - are you ready to make the change?
    2. Ability - do you have the resources to make the change?
    3. Triggers - how will you remember to make the change?
When making the decision to change, it's important to keep it simple.  Below is a summary of the factors to consider when setting a "simple" goal.
    1. Time:  Do you have the time to perform the action? The less time it takes, the more likely you are to implement the change.
    2. Money: Does it cost money?  Low cost = increased likelihood the change will happen.
    3. Physical Effort: How much physical exertion does it require and do you possess the ability to perform the action?
    4. Mental Cycles: How mentally challenging is the new behavior? Do you have the mental energy to perform the task?
    5. Social Deviance: Is the change socially acceptable to you or will it create too much discomfort for you?
    6. Non-Routine: Can you make the change part of your normal routine?  Non-routine behaviors are more difficult to sustain.
As you develop your "Spring Cleaning" goals, take time to evaluate your ability to get it done because you're only as strong as your most limited resource.  So, if plan to clean out your "mental closet" this spring, or under the couch or behind the refrigerator, be realistic and ...........
 
KEEP IT SIMPLE!!
 
Hreha, J. (2016) Models to Know: Fogg Behavior Model. Retrieved from http://bigthink.com/wikimind/models-to-know-fogg-behavior-model