There are some things that have somehow just become a regular part of our culture and we do them, talk about them or think about them but rarely do we know the origin.  For instance, who decided that breaking the wishbone brings good luck, or why do we say people should kiss under the mistletoe?  Both of these examples can be good fun but what about spring cleaning? 

These are two words that suddenly make most people want to disappear.  Spring cleaning has a number of origin reference points including religion and history. No matter which point of origin you connect with, the major focus is clearing out the old and preparing for the new things that are to come. 

As I reflect on world events (and specifically the world of early childhood education) I can’t help but think we need to do some FALL CLEANING to shed the residue of 2020 and prepare for a successful 2021.  Maybe you feel the same way, but for me it seems like just yesterday was March (I don’t even remember January/February) and it also seems like this has been the longest year ever! With all that I can, my lens is focused on 2021 and I hope yours is too.

The uncertainty of these past few months has caused us all to scurry in ways that we never imagined, but that kind of intensity doesn’t happen without a cost.  Even in all the craziness, we must take a moment to take account of our sphere of influence.  This exercise will benefit you both personally and professionally:

1. Revisit your definition of success

Once upon a time it was nearly impossible to get all of the teaching staff to check emails even once a day.  Now they have learned to lead online instruction (even if it isn’t stellar).  The point is that they have suddenly learned how to use the computer!  This implementation curve came with great challenge, but it was much easier for those that either had prior experience or at least the equipment necessary to launch.  Success isn’t just about checking boxes off of a list, it is also about the efforts taken to check the boxes, the systems in place and the positioning for the next thing.  Great players are always playing with their next move in mind.

2. Check priorities & processes

As the times have changed, so have our needs.  Funding shifts were necessary, personnel shifts were mandated and flexibility was (and still is) indispensable.  The way that things were isn’t the way that things always have to be and some things just can’t be anymore.  With that in mind you have to make decisions about how you will be forever positioned for the next big challenge and to make sure that your commitments are aligned with and setting you up for your newly defined success.  

3. Take inventory of what you have vs. what you really need

Based on your definition of success, do you have everything you need?  How can you repurpose or reassign to meet your goals? I was recently speaking with someone who wants to open a school. At the end of the conversation, I resolved that it is easier to open a new school than it is to reopen an existing school. If you pretend that you don’t know any of the rules and you don’t have any limitations what would you do?  This is the level of creativity you need in a post-pandemic world.  Once you start with the big dream, then you can modify based on requirements, resources and reality.  But if you start from the place of what you have always done you will box yourself in every time.

4. Clear out the clutter

For years, I have been trying to clear out my home office.  It is packed. Most of it is in a drawer or a cabinet so you wouldn’t know at first glance, but I know it’s there.  The knowing has always made the space feel heavy to me.  Recently we replaced the carpet and as a result I had to move everything out.  Even though it was a lot of work, it gave me the much needed opportunity to clear out the hidden things and reimagine the space based on my newly identified definition of success.  Now I have more space than I realized, it is more appealing and most of all it functions well for my new normal. 

We are all in a new normal that we didn’t see coming and didn’t plan for as well as we probably could have.  Go ahead and jump into the fall cleaning frenzy that is going to help you put 2020 in your rearview and make 2021 a breeze!