If you’ve ever enjoyed a vacation out of town, odds are you’ve probably stayed in an Airbnb or VRBO. Renters enjoy the luxuries of a fully stocked home and the benefit of a bit more space to spread out. When traveling with more than a couple, Airbnb or VRBO can be a very cost-effective tool for spreading your vacation dollars. By simply logging onto the app and typing in a few details about your trip, you’ll see a plethora of options for your accommodations: a tree house, a modern A-frame, a beach bungalow, a studio apartment, or your neighbor’s house.  

Sometimes, a short-term rental in your neighborhood can hit too close to home. Those opposed to their fence-mates operating a short-term rental express concern about the rotating door of guests, the unknown guests living (briefly) next door, noise, parties, damage to property, how well the property will be maintained ... just to name a few. On the flip side, those who use Airbnb or VRBO regularly, or those who own/operate a short-term rental, see things a bit differently. 

“People who own or operate short-term rentals like Airbnb or VRBO have to ensure that  their  property  is  in  tip-top  shape.  That  means  the  grass  is  always  mowed,  trees are trimmed, sidewalks are plowed... the home must have curb appeal and maintain  the  strictest  cleanliness  standards  on  the  inside,  too.  The  threat  of  a  bad review on any short-term rental platform can literally cost you thousands of dollars. You want your guests to have a great experience, feel comfortable in your home, and share their positive experience by giving the host a five-star review,” says a local short-term rental owner. 

Another short-term rental owner has had “zero issues” with rowdy guests. “Often-times, our guests leave the home in better condition than when they arrived. I’m always surprised by just how considerate guests are. ... I’ve become friends with many of my guests, as we live on-site. It’s been a joyful experience hosting guests traveling through our area.” When asked about how their neighbors feel about the rental, one property owner said, “We have never received any complaints from our neighbors. Typically, they love visiting with the guests and offering our guests recommendations and ‘need-to-do’ local activities.” 

A growing concern with short-term rentals is their impact on local housing markets. Some governing bodies around the country are taking steps to limit or eliminate short-term rentals in hopes of opening opportunities for local home buyers. During the pandemic, many Americans transitioned into remote work, giving homeowners the opportunity to capitalize on the growing population: remote workers. Many converted rooms in their home or mother-in-law suites into vacation rentals, providing families another source of income during a time of decreased wages and/or unemployment.  

It also gave investors the opportunity to buy up property at very low interest rates and convert them into short-term rentals. While  some  may  have  concerns  about  the  increase  in  short-term  rentals  and  its  impact  on  the  local  housing  market,  one local owner said, “I could see Airbnb having a very mild impact on housing. Locally, we allow long-term rentals to be purchased by locals or investors, so what meaningful difference exists between the two? In my opinion, short-term rentals give homeowners an opportunity to earn extra income by maximizing their greatest asset, their home. As we see price increases in the grocery store and at the gas pump, this extra cash flow can be meaningful to families and our community.”

Spring cleaning. Decluttering. The Swedish death clean. The Marie Kondo method. No matter what you call it, who doesn’t enjoy a fresh, squeaky-clean start? This Spring of 2022, after a few hard years of a global pandemic and seemingly greater uncertainty in an always uncertain world, consider taking your spring-cleaning efforts to the next level.  

A  principle  in  the  yogi  world,  “swaha,”  comes  to  mind.  It’s  the  idea  of  releasing  yourself  from  expectations,  allowing things to be as they are — not apathy, but acceptance. I like to think of swaha as meaning “let the junk go!” “Junk” would be tangible goods that you no longer need and emotional baggage you’re holding on to. Inventory, reflect, and let go.

Start by examining the space in which you live: where you move, breathe, work, relax, and spend precious time with loved ones. Take in the space. What do you see?

Do you have skinny jeans that haven’t fit for five years? Sweaters you haven’t worn for ten years?  Stacks of papers and photos that you never look at? Throw pillows and towels that are tired and frayed? Kitchen gadgets that you rarely use? Are your cupboards overflowing with decades old spice bottles? Is your bathroom vanity full of almost empty bottles of lotions, serums, and scrubs? Is your basement bursting with long forgotten toys? Are your shelves covered with dusty books you don’t read?

As you take in your home and all the stuff you’ve chosen to fill it with, ask yourself:

• Do I use this?

• Do I like this?

• Would someone else use and appreciate this more than me?

• Do I want to share my life with this thing?

If you’re going to share your energy, your home, your space, and your life with something, it should be positive, helpful, and happy. 

Once you’ve taken an inventory and spent some time reflecting, decide if you’ll keep, pitch, or donate any unused or unwanted items. If you need extra help, many brilliant experts have written books on cleaning and organization. In true decluttering spirit, don’t buy a book on it. Check one out from your local library.

Start with your space. That’s the easy and even fun part. Then dig a little deeper. Look within, and think about the spirit of swaha. Ask yourself:

• What do I need to let go? 

• What isn’t serving me anymore? 

• Am I holding onto jealousy, anger, bitterness, judgment, comparison? 

• What is stopping me from becoming a happier and healthier person? 

Letting go is hard, but holding on is harder. How to let go is deeply personal, but small actions can have a big impact: go for a walk outside, take a workout class, go to church, forgive someone who has hurt you, forgive yourself, take a bath, call a family member you haven’t spoken to in a long time, read a book, meet a friend for coffee, find a free meditation on YouTube, prepare a healthy meal at home. Choose to be patient and kind towards yourself and see how that patience and kindness extends to others. Commit to taking one small action once a week that supports a happier and healthier life. 

Moving forward, chose to be choosey. Once you’ve decluttered, be choosey about what you bring into your home and your life. The next time you find yourself at Target or TJ Maxx or perusing Amazon, ask yourself a few questions before you add to cart:

• Am I buying this now to make me happy because something else (likely stressful  or sad) is going on in my life? 

• Do I want this long term, or do I want this right now?

• A year from now, will I look at this and still be happy?

• A year from now, will I still use this?

• Is there another way, without buying stuff, that I could find happiness and stress  relief today?

Being choosey translates not only into the stuff that we bring into our homes, but also to all the other stuff we use to fill up our lives. We all have to do things we don’t want to do. That is simply a part of life, but in many ways, you can be choosey with your time. Your time is a precious gift. How are you spending it? Ask yourself:

• Am I saying “yes” only because I feel pressured or guilty? 

• Am I saying “yes” to things that aren’t a good use of my talents? 

• How can I use my talents to serve others in a way that still brings me joy? 

• Do I regularly spend time complaining about how much I work, how tired I am,  and how stressed and busy I am? 

We all need to vent at times. But, in my experience, complaining about how tired, busy, and stressed I am never helps me become less tired, busy, or stressed.  Instead, put time and energy into a small action (maybe one of the suggestions above!) that supports your decluttered, happy, and healthy life. Enjoy your spring cleaning, and with thoughtful choices, you can “swaha” the whole year through.