Hello April! Summer is slowly creeping in, but let's not forget about the underestimated season of spring which has definitely arrived (watch, now that I've jinxed it, it will probably start snowing). In either case this also means it’s time for you to do some spring-cleaning. And, yes, this means vacuuming your car, giving it a nice wash and taking all your unnecessary snow brushes and boots out of there. You should clean out your closet off all the items you wore to their last stitch, but after you do all this, you shouldn't forget to wash out your life. Here are some important things to add to your spring-cleaning list (in order to help you start one):
1. Clean up your relationships, first and foremost. This is extremely important. If someone isn't bettering your lifetime or making you happy, it's time to let them go. This includes significant others. Some of us are just settling for mediocrity because we’re comfortable and it is what we're are used to. In case your relationships do not make you feel good you're ready to move on. No ifs, ands or buts!
2. Empty the mind! Clear out your mind of all the mental poison that might be floating around up there. You are awesome and you have so much to offer. If you are really stressed out and overwhelmed, begin with meditating for 10 minutes a day, or add yoga or a enter your daily routine if you have a little more time on your hands. Make time in your life to distress and free the mind of all the bad vibes. Imagine a light, hour-long yoga session each morning to begin your day in total bliss.
3. Switch off your notifications. Seriously, you don't need to constantly be staring at your phone seeing each time someone likes your Instagram picture. The necessity to get notified every time someone hits RT on Twitter also doesn't have to be a priority for you because it will still be there when you open the app two seconds later to recheck it. Turn them off; it will help you focus better in everyday life about things that actually matter. If you're being particularly brave, try deleting your lesser used accounts.
4. Unsubscribe to Emails. You don't have to still get emails from the store you haven't stepped in since 2011. Next time you get their email for 20 percent off, make sure you scroll to the bottom and hit “Unsubscribe” before you let anymore flood your inbox. At the minimum, create a new folder and send all of the advertisements there.
5. Get your diet under control. Eating healthier will ultimately make you feel better (the world's been telling you this for a long time). I don't care what anyone says, eating junk food does not make you feel good afterward and it'll make you feel even worse a few hours in to the night. Start doing some meal prep so when you know you will be short on time, throw in a healthy snack in your bag so that you don't have to sit within the drive-thru line anymore. Try new recipes and new types of your favorite food, you will feel better in no time! Spending a few hours creating healthy meals throughout the week will have you feeling nice and clean almost instantly.
6. Work out your body. This goes together with diet, but the more you progress the better you will feel. Even if it is going for a walk, getting in the gym to throw some weights around (not literally). Nobody ever regretted a workout and I've never felt worse leaving from a workout than I did before I walked in. Sweating and moving the body work to help you forget about things troubling you and make you feel better as a person, that is essential in cleaning up your life. Most exercise studios provide a reduced first month fee, so employ this and find a routine you can stick with.
7. Add in some green. You can also add this to your diet, but you can also add it to your home. If you cannot have real plants in your house because you're allergic or else you just forget to water them, go buy a few fake plants or cacti! They will not have you sneezing, but they will definitely help the atmosphere of your house and make your house feel more cozy and lively. Greenery always spruces in the place nicely.
8. Clean up your money. No one enjoys this, unless you're a merchant account, but it is important! Look through your bank statements; did you really need to spend $200 at Starbucks recently? Well, this month I'd say you're ready to reevaluate and try to cut down. See where you can cut back and actually do it. You will be happier in the long run when you can actually manage to treat yo' self to that dream vacation next summer.
9. Finally, actually clean up your life in general. The piles of papers hanging out your room are not helping you sleep better during the night. Go through things that have been consistently pushed off and away to the side and sort them out. Spend a whole day doing everything on your procrastination list. Throw away stuff you don't need and realize possessions are weighing you down, such as the old chair that you just keep throwing things on. Place it by the side of the road, not everything could be saved and kept forever. Especially your boyfriend or girlfriend boyfriends old T-shirts, it’s time for those to go. Letting go of yesteryear is essential for spring cleaning.
Tackling all of this before summer fully takes over will help you feel like you got off to a fresh start. It might seem impossible to complete, but once you get going things will start freshening up before your eyes and lighten some weight off your shoulders!
