
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Pandora
Spring isn’t just about deep-cleaning your home—it’s about clearing mental and emotional clutter, too.
Research shows that spring cleaning can boost your mood, increase productivity, and even reduce stress levels. There’s something about longer days and fresh air that makes us crave a reset!
So let’s take advantage of that energy.
In this episode, I’m walking you through my ADHD-friendly, no-BS approach to spring cleaning—not just your space, but your business and life, too. But here’s the twist: this isn’t about organizing more—it’s about questioning everything.
- What if the real reason you feel stuck isn’t clutter but the way you’re spending your time?
- What if cutting one thing from your schedule could give you back hours every week?
- What if the best way to move forward isn’t adding something new—but letting go of something that’s weighing you down?
I’ll share the surprising shift that helped me work less and get more done, why I stopped saying yes to every exciting idea (even the good ones), and the mindset shift that lets me pivot without guilt.
If you’re ready for a fresh start—without the overwhelm—let’s dive in.
Step 1: Delete Before You Declutter – Why You Need a Burn List
We waste so much time organizing things that should be trashed, donated, or deleted. Clutter isn’t just stuff—it’s unmade decisions. Whether it’s digital files, unworn clothes, or unused business tools, it’s time to clear the weight.
To start, create a Burn List of things you are holding onto out of guilt, habit, or FOMO. Then, take action by deleting, donating, or delegating them. If you wouldn’t spend money on an item today, it’s time to let it go.
The idea is to remove the things that take up mental and physical space before even thinking about reorganizing them.
I used to hoard packaging, convincing myself that beautiful boxes had a future purpose. Instead, they just piled up, creating unnecessary clutter and adding to my mental load.
Another time, I handed my laptop to a tech team at an event, and the moment they plugged it in, my chaotic desktop was on full display—hundreds of screenshots, unfinished projects, and random files! It was a wake-up call that deleting is often more effective than just organizing.
This applies to your business, too—outdated systems, unused software, or subscriptions that no longer serve you should be eliminated, not just reorganized.
Step 2: The 80/20 Time Audit – How to Fire Half Your To-Do List
Most of us waste 80% of our time on tasks that only generate 20% of results. The real issue isn’t a lack of time—it’s that we are working on the wrong things.
We fill our schedules with busy work, thinking that being busy equals being productive, when in reality, the truly impactful work often takes up just a small percentage of our day.
To gain clarity, perform an 80/20 work audit by listing everything you do in a week. At the end of the week, highlight the tasks that actually drive results and eliminate or delegate the rest.
Want to dive deeper into the 80/20 Rule? Tune in to Episode 832: The One Principle Every Entrepreneur Must Master to Maximize Results!
The Time-Cap Method can help by assigning strict time limits to each task, such as 15 minutes for emails or two hours for deep work. Setting limits forces you to be more efficient, rather than allowing tasks to expand to fill your day.
Another useful challenge is the Two-Hour Workday Experiment. If you only had two hours to work each day, what would you focus on? Try it for a week and see what shifts. Chances are, you will discover that some tasks truly don’t need as much time as you thought, and others don’t need to be done at all.
During a spring break trip, I unintentionally tested this approach. I only worked in small pockets of time while my kids were occupied. Instead of falling behind, I realized I was getting more done in less time because I had to prioritize what truly mattered.
This method can be a game-changer for anyone who feels like there just aren’t enough hours in the day!
Step 3: Stop Saying Yes – The “Minimum Viable Business” Approach
If you have too many ideas, you don’t need more inspiration—you need bigger blinders. The most successful business owners don’t chase every new thing; they refine what already works.
If you constantly say yes to new projects, ideas, or collaborations, you may be spreading yourself too thin and diluting your impact.
And yes, Goal Digger: it IS possible to stay creative without constantly creating! Check out Episode 842: How to Stay Creative Without Always Creating Something New to learn how!
The MVB Test asks: If you had to cut your business in half today, what would you keep?
Start there. Instead of jumping on every exciting idea, create a “Someday, Maybe” Graveyard—a place where you park ideas for three months. If they still excite you later, revisit them. This prevents knee-jerk reactions and ensures that only the best, most aligned ideas get your energy.
I used to attend masterminds and leave every meeting with five new business ideas. My team started to brace themselves whenever I returned, knowing I’d be full of grand plans. Eventually, I realized that constantly chasing new ideas was creating chaos instead of progress.
Now, I focus on refining what’s already working, which has led to deeper success and more freedom. This mindset shift has allowed me to build a business that runs efficiently without constant reinvention.
Step 4: Let It Go – Permission to Pivot Without Guilt
Sticking with something just because you started it is sunk-cost thinking—not strategy. The most successful people pivot faster. Just because something was a great idea in the past doesn’t mean it serves you now.
To assess if you’re on the right path, use the “Still Right for Future Me?” Check-In. If something no longer aligns with your goals, it’s okay to let it go. Writing a simple permission slip—for example, “I give myself permission to change my mind”—can be a powerful reminder that you have the right to pivot when necessary.
There’s no shame in deciding that a certain project, habit, or routine is no longer the best fit for your life or business.
The 90-Day Rule is another way to test change. If something is stressing you out, adjust it for 90 days and see what happens. This could mean changing a launch date, stepping back from social media, or even pausing a major project to reassess its impact.
The beauty of this approach is that it gives you time to reflect without feeling like you’ve made an irreversible decision!
Last year, I decided to change my course launch schedule—a big move since I had followed the same structure for six years. My VP was on maternity leave, so I didn’t have a sounding board, but I trusted my instincts.
Looking back, that decision was one of the best of the year and set us up for more success with less stress. When you give yourself the permission to pivot, you unlock a new level of flexibility and clarity in your work and life.
Ready to Reset?
By deleting before you declutter, auditing your time, focusing on what truly matters, and giving yourself permission to pivot, you’re setting yourself up for more ease, joy, and success.
This isn’t just about spring cleaning—it’s about designing a business and life that actually works for you!
So, which of these steps are you tackling first? I can’t wait to hear what you you’re cleaning out of your business on Instagram @goaldiggerpodcast!
Thank you to our Goal Digger Sponsors
- Run your first payroll with Gusto and get three months free!
- Make B2B marketing everything it can be and get a $100 credit on your next campaign. Claim your credit here!
- Get 10% off your first OSEA order sitewide with code GOALDIGGER.
- Sign up for your $1/month Shopify trial period!
- Get all the Goal Digger goodness you love COMPLETELY ad-free. Subscribe today!