Give Yourself the Gift of Clean

Don’t underestimate the power of 15 minutes to transform your day.

And while cleaning out a cabinet or closet hardly seems like a way to get away, the payoff and satisfaction can be quite rewarding – particularly given the time invested.

With the tease of warm air, thoughts of spring cleaning come to mind. But rather than tackling a major project like the winter coat closet (regrettably too early for that) or the garage (still going to get dirty from the snow), choose a small task.

Reorganize your desk drawer and then take a quick trip to in Lake Forest or Lake Bluff and splurge on some pretty desk accessories.

If you are as sick of the mess in your clothes closet as you are of your winter clothes, start with a few drawers. Put a donation bag together and drop it off any day before 5 p.m. at the for its annual rummage sale (go to the rear parking lot and you will find some steps down to a door where you can drop your donation).

Then reward your good deed and stop by in Market Square to treat yourself to some stylish but inexpensive earrings.

It’s only 15 minutes. Dump it out, pitch what you don’t need, and put it back in neat and organized.

It’s the cheapest treat and you don’t even have to leave home.