10 Spring Themed Coaching Questions to Review and Freshen up Your Life!

On a walk in the woods recently, I saw winter's accumulated garbage and litter everywhere. It looks strangely depressing next to the crocuses and yellow daffodils. Everywhere I look, things are budding and coming into leaf—and the garbage glares accusingly at me.

From garbage to clutter...

Garbage and clutter are not dissimilar. Did you know the word "clutter" comes from a 15th Century English word—clotter—a variant of clot? The word clot has described collections of dead bodies, cats (presumably stray ones), narrow, crooked, dark and dirty lanes and spiders.

Clutter is mentally toxic

Clutter has a habit of expanding: for some of us, what starts off as a harmless pile of papers or stuff can grow such that our physical environments become toxic and draining. From there physical clutter can become part of a vicious cycle not only impacting the beauty and comfort of our environment, but also impacting how we feel—sucking precious energy as we feel stuck, guilty, disorganized, embarrassed or incompetent.

Think about how good you feel when you finally clear out those dead houseplants, the outdated timetables and "useful" notes from the fridge. Or when you clear off your desk, clear out your wardrobe or put away your filing...

We can also clutter our minds...

While clutter is often thought of as physical (things you can see and touch), clutter can also be mental: unresolved conflict, decisions not made, actions not taken, a lack of clarity and ruminating around our goals. A cluttered mind is also often represented by physical clutter in our lives.

Spring* is the perfect time to review progress with clients, refocus and get a fresh outlook

As our longer days return and we have more sunshine, it's a great time to get re-energised. If your clients have set annual goals, where are they flagging? Where would some inspiration and clarity freshen up their motivation?

* If you're in the southern hemisphere—and instead heading into autumn or fall—instead focus on getting clarity by wrapping up one season and clearing the decks. Just amend the wording of the questions slightly.

NOW is a great time to get rid of your clutter and garbage, have a "spring clean" and start the next quarter with a clean slate.

So, here are 10 Spring Themed Questions or Journal Prompts Help your clients review and take a fresh look at life by asking these questions in a coaching session—or offering them as journal prompts/homework. What would a "Spring Clean" of your life look like for you? Make a list or describe what your life would look like after you've spring cleaned it. What are the cobwebs that need sweeping away so that you can appreciate the beauty of your life? What are you procrastinating over? Where do you need to "freshen up" your attitude? What needs physically spring cleaning in your life? (eg. your office, filing, wardrobe, hairstyle, kitchen, garden) What's cluttering your mind? What needs mentally spring cleaning in your life? (eg. your marketing or business plan, your finances/taxes, your goals, relationships) What is zapping your energy? (eg. unresolved conflicts, unmade decisions, fears/worries, a lack of clarity) In what areas of your life do you need to take a breath of fresh air? (the wheel of life can help here!) What do you need to let go of and clear up so that you can spring forward? Who is draining you? Who do you need to let go of in your life? In your life, what glares accusingly at you? (however big or small, if something glares at you it's time to do something about it!)

Enjoy these questions! Help yourself and your clients become aware, and let go, of the clutter and baggage you're carrying around: move forward with renewed clarity and purpose.

Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity. Albert Einstein

If you liked this article about clutter and "Spring Cleaning" you may also like:

• Grab this beautiful .PDF printable with 10 Spring Journaling Prompts (from sister company Fierce Kindness)
• Create a Spring Clean Your Life! Coaching Program or Workshop with our Seasonal Toolkit
• Our Life "Spring Clean" Quote Graphics (a complete month of daily inspirational, diverse quote graphics with a "Spring Clean" theme. Brandable and exclusively designed for coaches).