As I sit here typing, the sun is shining, the sky is blue and it’s the perfect weather to get out and exercise. It’s also time for a good, thorough spring clean. This could be a cleanse in terms of health, a reset of your mind, a detox to improve your diet, or addressing your fitness regime. Of course, it could also be as simple as cleaning your house from top to bottom to bring a fresh feel into the home. Personally, this year I’m going to do both.
First up, it’s a case of putting a day aside to get rid of the junk. This always takes me a lot longer than I expect as I get easily sidetracked when I find products or clothes I forgot I had. So, my top tip is that you have to be ruthless. I would say if you’ve forgotten you have it, or if you haven’t used it or worn it in the last year, get rid of it. If you like, you could be more brutal and cut the survival period down – so you could say six months or even three months if you really want to minimise your possessions.
Once you’ve de-cluttered and decided whether to sell, donate or bin your old stuff, it’s time to reassess your beauty regime. You need to be strong and make a choice about what your morning and evening routine is going to be, select your products carefully and then they, and they alone, will be on your bathroom shelf from this day forth. Simplicity is key and, ultimately, your skin will appreciate the regularity of fewer products – you may even find that they work more effectively. Once you’ve finished a product, you can either replenish or explore the option of replacing it with something else, but don’t sneakily add to the shelf until there is an official space.
Next, consider addressing your nutrition and daily diet. Stock up on veggies, fruit and salad, and learn a few new recipes, then devise a weekly meal plan. You can introduce lighter, leaner dishes and perhaps a few switches – try a potato instead of a sweet potato, fried food instead of grilled, padding out your plate with salad and opting for water instead of wine at mealtimes. Speaking of water, if you feel like your intake isn’t good enough, this is a great opportunity to increase the amount you drink. Whether you need to add cordial, or even add some fizz via a SodaStream, just up the amount of H20 you are working through your body – it’s the ultimate detox.
If you can treat yourself, how about booking in for a massage or a facial? It’s amazing how treatments can you make you feel like a new person. If you can’t justify the price, then set aside some time to pamper yourself. I never get to book in at a spa but I do try and allow time for a weekly DIY facial. My little girl gets involved with me and likes to pretend she’s the pro, but it doesn’t really matter whether she’s mastered it or not – we still have fun mummy and daughter time.
Finally, if you’re going to take on the full spring clean, you have to look at your fitness regime. Summer is going to be here before we know it and, with that in mind, perhaps the thought of wearing a bikini on the beach will act as motivation. I always find that training for an event is a great way to get fitter and introduce a more disciplined approach to exercise. So, whether it is a 5k, a 10k or a half marathon, or even a swimming or cycling challenge, giving yourself a goal will not only spur you on, it will also be a great focus. Why not recruit some friends to join in? That way, you’re more likely to commit and you might even find that the friendly competition acts as a little push.
Here’s to a healthy, happy, cleansed and de-cluttered body, mind and soul!
