I recently realized something a bit strange. I’m now living in the Southern Hemisphere, which means we’re finishing summer and heading into fall. And yet, right around this time of year, I still feel the urge to reset, clean, and reorganize everything (aka Spring Cleaning).

It turns out this turned from a slogan into an actual habit / system for me. Whether it’s spring where you are or not, the transition into Q2 creates a natural checkpoint. And while most people think of cleaning as something physical, the real opportunity is to clean the systems that run your life and work.

Tip of the Week: This week, try cleaning both your physical space, and also the flows that create your workload.

Side Note: If your inbox feels out of control, it’s probably a system problem. Curious how to “clean it”?

That’s exactly why I created the Effective Workload Management Systems course, a proven framework to help you take back control of your inbox, design repeatable email workflows, and stay on top of your priorities without constantly reacting. It’s been refined with input from over 70,000 Amazonians, and it’s helped thousands finally get to inbox zero (and actually stay there). If you’re serious about cleaning up your inbox for good (not just this week) start there.

The Theory Behind

The feeling of starting fresh can be triggered. Research on the Fresh Start Effect shows that temporal landmarks (like a new quarter, a new season, or even a new week) create psychological openings for change. Something as simple as cleaning your closet, organizing your desktop, or clearing your inbox can signal a reset. It creates a sense of separation from the past and gives you permission to start again. That feeling of “newness” isn’t superficial, but it can actually be a real driver of behavior change.

Clutter hurts us cognitively. Cognitive load theory and research on decision fatigue show that every open loop we carry (unfinished tasks, unread emails, messy folders) adds friction to our thinking. A cluttered desktop or inbox is more than just annoying, it’s constantly pulling on your attention. When you clean those environments, you’re reducing the number of decisions your brain has to process. That’s why small acts of cleaning often lead to disproportionate gains in focus and clarity.

Systems degrade unless we reset them. James Clear often talks about how we don’t rise to our goals, we fall to our systems. But systems aren’t static. Over time, they accumulate noise: extra steps, outdated processes, unnecessary tools, and legacy commitments. Without intentional resets, they become inefficient without us noticing. A quarterly “cleaning” helps you restore your systems to a level where they actually support your growth instead of slowing it down.

What I’ve Learned

Even in a different season, my system still craves a reset. Even though I’m technically heading into fall, I still feel the urge to clean and reset everything around this time of year. I think that’s because I’ve turned this into a system over the years... my brain now associates this moment with stepping back, clearing things out, and starting fresh. And I’ve learned this isn’t really just about cleaning physical spaces, although I do do that. It’s about clearing what you’re carrying: old commitments, unnecessary inputs, things you said yes to months ago that no longer make sense. Most of us are holding onto more than we realize, not because it’s important, but because we never stopped to question it. A good reset is about dropping things, getting ready to get into what’s coming next.

Make It Happen

1. Clean your digital space. Start with where most of your attention lives: your inbox, notes, files, and tabs. Capture anything that’s still relevant and consolidate it into one trusted system. The goal isn’t just to delete, it is to process things that might be floating around.

2. Clean your physical space. Your environment shapes your behavior more than you think. Reset your desk, your nightstand, your workspace, give away clothes...anywhere you spend consistent time.

3. Audit your commitments. Look at everything you’ve said yes to (projects, recurrent meetings, responsibilities). Then ask the hard question: Would I commit to this again today? If the answer is no, it’s a signal. This is where you decide what not to carry into Q2.

4. Pay attention to what was hardest to clean. The areas that took the most effort to reset are usually where your system is broken. If your inbox was overwhelming, your intake system needs work. If your notes are messy, your capture system isn’t clear. Tens of thousands have used this as a system to clean their inboxes.

5. Fix the inflow, the source of all the mess. Cleaning is temporary if the inflow stays the same. Ask yourself: How did this accumulate in the first place? Then adjust your systems: How you capture. How you process. What you allow in. This is what prevents you from needing another “big reset” too soon.

Whether it’s spring or fall where you are...your systems still need a reset.

I'm sorry mama, but tonight, I'm cleaning out my closet,

Jorge Luis Pando

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PS: Wow, you made it all the way down here? You must really care about your personal development! Here are 3 ways I can help you grow even faster:

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