Spring Cleaning with Personality

As the days get longer, the landscape turns from dull grey to green, and cobra chickens (known to the rest of the world as Canadian geese) return to claim their territory, it’s time to tackle that age-old tradition: spring-cleaning. Love it or hate it, it’s one of those things in life you just can’t avoid. Like all challenges in life, every personality will tackle it in different ways. From the spontaneous Resourceful Oranges who tackle messes with flair, to the meticulous Organized Golds armed with checklists sharper than a chef’s knife. The Inquiring Greens, treating dust bunnies like puzzles to be solved, and the Authentic Blues, turning decluttering into a journey of self-discovery. As you read on, think about how you tackle spring-cleaning, and your best cleaning hacks.

Resourceful Oranges tackle spring-cleaning with a sense of spontaneity and flair. They might start by diving headfirst into the clutter, tossing things around with a flourish. Forget the Marie Kondo’s approach; there’s joy to be found in chaos, and Resourceful Oranges believe in the chaos before the calm. They’ll blast their favourite music, turning cleaning into a dance party. Who needs a cleaning schedule when you’ve got the energy of a Resourceful Orange? They’ll clean with passion and intensity until everything sparkles, or until they get distracted by something more interesting, before coming back to it again.

Organized Golds tackle spring-cleaning with meticulous planning and organization. They’ll create detailed lists, and sometimes, spreadsheets; categorizing tasks by priority and efficiency. Every closet, shelf, and drawer will be sorted through, with nothing escaping their fury. Organized Golds believe in tradition, so they’ll stick to proven cleaning methods passed down through generations. If a family has a strict cleaning schedule, you know it was an Organized Gold that put it in place. They want to make sure that everyone plays their part in maintaining order. For Organized Golds, spring-cleaning isn’t just a chore; it’s a sacred duty that shouldn’t be messed with.

Inquiring Greens tackle spring-cleaning like a complex challenge. They’ll analyze the most efficient ways to clean, researching the latest cleaning gadgets and techniques. Armed with their own conclusions, they’ll devise innovative solutions to tackle even the toughest stains and messes. Inquiring Greens see spring-cleaning as an opportunity to optimize their living and working spaces; don’t be surprised if you walk into their space and see the furniture completely rearranged. They’ll make changes on the fly if they figure out a better way to do things, treating cleaning as a problem-solving challenge to be conquered with ideas and innovation… and an army of robot vacuums.

Authentic Blues tackle spring-cleaning with a focus on renewal and transformation. They’ll include meaning as part the cleaning process, thinking about the memories attached to each item as they declutter. Every object has sentimental value for an Authentic Blue, so they’ll take extra care in deciding what to keep and what to let go. They might even turn cleaning into a thoughtful practice, reflecting on the concept of letting go of the old to make room for the new. Authentic Blues will create a comfortable atmosphere as they clean to help minimize stress. For Authentic Blues, spring-cleaning isn’t just about tidying up; it’s about taking care of themselves and creating a harmonious environment for growth and creativity.

Whether you’re tossing clutter with the zeal of a Resourceful Orange, meticulously organizing like an Organized Gold, innovating your cleaning routine like an Inquiring Green, or using it as a time to reflect like an Authentic Blue, spring-cleaning is a time for all personalities to shine (or at least sparkle a little). Embrace your unique approach, whether it’s dancing with the dust bunnies or methodically conquering each corner of your home. Just remember, along with the chaos and the checklists, the ultimate goal is to create a space that makes you comfortable; a place where you can relax, recharge, and maybe even find that missing sock you’ve been looking for since last spring.

Brad Whitehorn – BA, CCDP is a lifelong Introvert, and the Associate Director at CLSR Inc.  He was thrown into the career development field headfirst after completing a Communications degree in 2005, and hasn’t looked back!  Since then, Brad has worked on the development, implementation and certification for various career and personality assessments (including Personality Dimensions®), making sure that Career Development Practitioners and HR Professionals get the right tools to do their best work.