Spring cleaning is an age-old ritual that has roots in Jewish, Christian, and Persian traditions. In the 1800s, spring brought about warmer weather which meant that the soot and grime from lamp, coal and wood heating used during the winter could be thoroughly cleaned out of the house. Spring cleaning is a ritual that has evolved with time and provides us with an opportunity to say goodbye to winter and prepare ourselves and our space for what is to come.
While spring in the northern hemisphere only lasts from March 20 to June 20, this cleaning and organization process for your Intellectual Engagement can be applied year-round.
1. Capture. Gathering all items relating to your Intellectual Engagement into a single location can help streamline the organization and cleaning process. Intellectual Engagement items may vary quite a bit and may include books, articles, tutorials, online accounts, and projects that still need completion. Do your best to capture all these items.
2. Organize. As you develop an organizational system for your Intellectual Engagement, ask yourself “what is this item?” and “is this item actionable?”. It may also be helpful to organize these items by category. For example, keep your business planning resources together and your photography books and equipment together.
There are several different ways you can organize items you’d like to reference in the future, such as books and articles. You may have a bookshelf or a home library where you prefer to store all reading materials. Sorting alphabetically is helpful if you know exactly what you’re looking for. However, sorting by category can help when you know you want to reference a specific topic but can’t recall which book or article discussed it. Articles may be best stored in file holders or electronically.
If you have hobbies that require tools and equipment, consider getting clear storage bins or setting up dedicated shelf and closet space so that all of your tools and equipment can stay together for easy access.
If you have a goal to learn a new skill, start by researching the topic. Compile your research to set intentions and develop an action plan. Let the action plan and its associated resources guide you toward learning the new skill. Scheduling the new skill in your calendar will help you dedicate time to it as well. In 2021, SFG is launching a client portal that will help you define and achieve your goals by providing you with resources and working with you to develop an action plan.
3. Clean. Once your Intellectual Engagement items are organized, they are ready for spring cleaning. It may be helpful to clean as you organize. For example, as you are sorting and organizing your books and articles, recycle or donate the resources you no longer need.
Transferring articles, magazine, and paper clippings to an electronic filing system is another way to clean your physical space while organizing these reference materials into categories.
As you dust off your hobby shelves, be sure to go through every item. Donate the things you will never use so that you can quickly access important items and so that there is space for new items if needed.
If you have several items that relate to a specific hobby that you have mastered, try finding someone just starting out in the hobby. Re-gifting your supplies and resources is a great way to get someone else started on their journey and there may be an opportunity for you to offer mentorship or guidance.
Alyssa Dalbey is a Wealth Manager with Schultz Financial Group Inc.
Schultz Financial Group Inc. (SFG) is a wealth management firm located in Reno, NV. Our approach to wealth management is different from many other wealth managers, financial advisors, and financial planners. Our team of fee-only fiduciaries strives to help our clients build their wealth across four capitals: Financial Matters, Physical Well-being, Psychological Space, and Intellectual Engagement. We provide family office and wealth management services to clients located in Nevada, California, and other states. If you’d like more information, please check out our website or reach out to us via our contact page.