Do you ever get the urge to just… purge?

Clean out stuff. Donate. Toss. Marie Kondo it. Maybe even light a fire and burn some things. Okay, maybe the burning part is just me.

There is something about this time of year that makes me want to open every drawer, every closet, every cabinet and just start clearing it out. Not in a gentle, thoughtful way. In a “how did I accumulate this much crap and why is it still here” kind of way. And it’s not just the physical stuff. Sometimes objects hold memories, and when you look at them they bring back a person, a moment, a version of yourself. Some of that is great. Some of that is… not. And suddenly that innocent little item feels heavier than it should.

People have been sorting out their homes for thousands of years. There are real historical and cultural reasons we do this. Persian families preparing for Nowruz, the spring new year, have a tradition called “shaking the house,” where everything gets cleaned in preparation for a fresh start. Jewish families deep clean before Passover to remove every trace of chametz. The Lunar New Year brings traditions of clearing the home to sweep away bad luck and welcome good fortune. Even the Greeks and Romans were into springtime cleansing rituals. This whole “start fresh” thing has been around a very long time.

It also used to be practical. Before modern heating, winter meant soot, dust, and closed windows for months. When spring arrived, people opened everything up and scrubbed their homes top to bottom. But somewhere along the way it became more than practical. It became emotional. Symbolic. Necessary.

There’s even science behind why we feel this surge of energy. More daylight brings more motivation. We literally wake up after winter. Suddenly the clutter you ignored in January feels intolerable. Your brain wants light, space, and air. It wants to breathe and feel clean.

For me, spring cleaning is less about being organized and more about being intentional. What am I holding onto that I don’t need anymore? What’s just taking up space? What still fits my life and what doesn’t? That applies to closets, and as you all know, I like my fashion. But also to habits, thoughts, and sometimes even people.

We carry things longer than we should. Old files. Old clothes. Old stories. Old frustrations. Spring is a good reminder that we’re allowed to clear some of that out. You don’t have to keep everything just because you’ve had it for a long time.

Open the windows. Let some air in. Move some things out. Donate what you can. Toss what you need to.

And if you feel a tiny urge to light a ceremonial fire in the backyard… I won’t judge.