Spring Clean Your Health
Let the sun shine in! Spring is just around the corner and so is a shiny, fresh start after a dreary, sunless winter. Some cities across Canada experienced their cloudiest January in at least a decade.
Pushing the reset button can help clear away winter’s weariness and reignite healthy habits. We could all use a little energizing. A deep spring clean isn’t just for your home, it’s good for your health too. A messy space along with excess “dust” – information, to-dos, clutter and chaos – sucks up your good energy and impacts optimal performance, leaving you feeling tired, moody, unfocused and unproductive.
Clear away what no longer serves you in your physical and mental spaces: you’ll feel reenergized and enjoy improved concentration, a better work/life balance, improved efficiency overall, and feel less stressed.
Check out our suggestions to help revitalize your health, eliminate mental fog, improve joint mobility, and effectively manage physical clutter:
A change of season is the perfect time to kickstart healthy eating habits. That starts with cleaning your fridge and pantry of expired or spoiled food and weeding out the less healthy fare. Add in more veggies and more fruit, along with whole grains and lean proteins. Cook more often at home.
Spring to life by just adding water. An early sign of dehydration is drowsiness, so drink up to detox and boost alertness. Munching on water-rich foods counts, too: Tomatoes are 95% water; spring mix lettuce is 93% water; raw spinach comes in at 91%; strawberries are 91%; asparagus is 93%; apples are 86% water.
Do a closet cleanse by donating pieces you haven’t worn in more than a year. Then, breathe new life into your wardrobe by investing in a few versatile pieces that’ll carry you through spring and summer 2024. Think colour too: Cherry reds, fondant pink, royal blues and leafy greens brighten any spring day.
Get a glow by putting adventure at the top of your to-do list. Stretch yourself and schedule an adventure to look forward to. Maybe a canoe or kayak trip, a hiking trip, a yoga retreat or an overnight spa visit. The excitement and anticipation will boost happiness and chase away winter weariness.
Spring clean your beauty routine. Throw out expired and unused makeup and transition from heavy moisturizers to lighter serums and lotions. Hydrate with a face mask and don’t forget to exfoliate. Book a facial or a special Jetpeel Essential for healthy skin. An SPF is a must.
Freshen up your fitness routine by taking it outside – walk, run or hike in nature and soak in the sunlight, wearing sunscreen of course. Be sure to swap out old runners for new ones as they lose their cushioning after about 500 to 700 km of running, which can cause more impact on muscles and joints.
Declutter your mind of limiting and negative beliefs and thoughts. We have about 60,000 thoughts a day and 50,000 of those are negative. It’s those negative thoughts that are limiting and contribute to stress. Stay in the present by doing short affirmations: “I am healthy and well. I am prosperous and abundant. I am filled with joy.”
Check-in with your doctor. Get up to date with your annual checkups such as mammograms or colonoscopies, pap smears, eye exams, etc. Call your dentist to get caught up on cleanings and dental work you’ve been putting off.
