14 Tips for Spring Cleaning Your Home and Health

April is here, and the sun is shining, the sky is blue, and the birds are chirping. Is it safe to say that spring is in the air?! 

I believe most of us have a natural need to declutter, clean, and renew our houses during this time of year, and to truly get into "spring cleaning" mode.

Winter usually brings additional clutter, dust, and dirt into our homes, but it also takes a toll on our bodies. We might undoubtedly end up feeling sluggish throughout the winter season, thanks to comfort foods and more inactive days, so I'm also sharing some methods you can ease the load on your body!

Spring Cleaning For The Home

Upgrade Your Pantry Contents

Spring is the perfect time for a thorough kitchen and pantry clean-out. Spices and other pantry goods that have expired should be discarded (they only hold their potency for about a year). Examine ingredient labels for GMOs, MSG, HFCS (high fructose corn syrup), trans fats, artificial sweeteners, and other contaminants. Upgrade your existing pantry contents with healthy pantry items.

Ditch any cans or plastic storage containers that aren’t labeled BPA-free. Toss all toxic and partially hydrogenated cooking oils and ditch the processed foods. Reward yourself by restocking with new ingredient upgrades and clean, healthy cuisine after you've cleaned out!

Declutter

Yes, the clutter that has accumulated throughout the winter (and possibly for years). The stuff that holds us stuck, with stifled creativity and obstructed vitality. It prevents us from progressing. It causes anxiety and overwhelm. Getting rid of clutter will provide you with a huge energy boost! Take on the heaps, donate the items you no longer want, and cleanse and arrange. Don't undervalue the significance of this! It will cause significant changes in your life.

Swap The Soaps

Take stock of your cleaning goods (soaps, sprays, detergents, and so on) and discard any that are empty, marry duplicates, and consider replacing chemical-laden cleansers with natural, ecologically friendly alternatives. You don't have to replace them all at once; start with the ones that require replacing and work your way up! Natural cleansers are not only better for your house, but also for your body, family, pets, and the environment.

Pot Some Plants

Did you know that many houseplants are natural air purifiers? Indoor air quality is critical to our general health since we spend so much time inside our houses, and the windows are frequently shut in the winter, making things stuffy. This spring, check out this list of Air-Cleaning Houseplants and add a few to your home.

Aromatize The Air

In addition to houseplants, there is another extremely simple thing you can do to "aromatize" the air in your home. Essential oils have been found to improve health when applied physically, but did you know you can use them to filter the air in your home? Lemon, Eucalyptus, and Cinnamon are just a few essential oils to experiment with. Simply sprinkle a few drops into your furnace filter or floor vents to get the benefits of purified indoor air while also making your home smell great.

Call A Cleaner

Having a house cleaner come once a month to clean our home has proven to be an excellent investment. Professional cleaners also see dirt and dust that we don't, and they get into places that we don't. Bringing in a professional to give your home that extra special deep clean it needs after the long winter months may be quite beneficial, even if it's not on a regular basis and simply a one-time event!

Spring Cleaning for you Health

Spring is a fantastic time to evaluate your food, physical activity, sleep habits, and much more.

The arrival of warmer weather serves as a timely reminder to visit your local farmers market or grocery store to stock up on in-season fruits and vegetables.

Fill Your Plate With Fresh, In-Season Fruits and Vegetables

Spring and summer are ideal times to increase your intake of fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables. Mushrooms, bell peppers, zucchini, and berries are all high in micronutrients that the body need and thrives on in the warmer months.

Visit your local farmer’s markets and shop for organic produce when possible, especially for fruits and vegetables that you eat whole from the outside, like apples or cherries. Instead of processed oils and fried foods, obtain your healthy fats from vegetables and whole foods like avocados, nuts, and seeds.

Be Mindful of Overindulgence Possibilities

Warmer weather often brings outdoor gatherings like picnics and barbeques, which probably will come with unhealthy foods like grilled and processed meats and fatty snacks.

A lot of foods that we barbecue are very fatty and can become carcinogenic. When grilling you should marinate your meat and continue to coat the marinade as it cooks. You can also grill veggies with decent water content. These two tips will help to reduce the possibility of your food becoming carcinogenic. 

Another crucial precaution is to limit your alcohol consumption when attending outdoor events. You don't have to fully avoid it; nonetheless, moderation is essential. Stick to the recommendations, which suggest that women should limit themselves to one drink per day and males to two drinks per day (with fewer being a healthier choice).

Maintain Hydration

Even if you don't feel sweaty when it's hot outside, your body can lose more fluids by perspiration when it's hot outside.

Dehydration can be dangerous to your health if it's severe, and even mild dehydration can induce fatigue, poor energy, and headaches. To avoid dehydration, make a conscious effort to drink enough water throughout the day, such as by carrying a water bottle with you at all times.

Another advantage of drinking plenty of water is that it may prevent you from overeating. Drinking a glass of water before eating will help to alleviate some of those hunger pangs.

Make sure you are drinking good quality water, not tap water (FYI - most bottled water is bottled tap water). You don’t want to be hydrating your body but also filling it with many other toxins that are detrimental to your health. 

Get Outside and Move

It is important to engage in sufficient physical activity on a daily basis. It might be as easy as going for a walk around the neighborhood or planting some flowers. Any activity that allows your bones and muscles to move can be beneficial.

Do outdoor activities, on the other hand, provide additional benefits?

We're born with a desire to spend time outside. It stimulates all of your senses and has a significant impact on your mood and self-esteem. Because of the sun, getting outside can help you get more vitamin D. When compared to exercising on a flat area, walking or jogging over uneven terrain can activate more muscles and improve balance.

Soak Up the Sun

Getting some sunlight has numerous advantages. Bright light helps the body release serotonin, which can improve your mood.

Getting outside, even for little periods of time, is refreshing! Being confined indoors, in artificial light Plus the blue light from our devices, doesn't do much for outlook, mood, or creativity, but getting outside, even for brief periods of time, helps!

Exposure to sunshine aids the skin's production of vitamin D, which is beneficial to bone health and other bodily processes.

Remember that there will be plenty of light to stimulate your mood even if you're walking or trekking in the shadow or on a cloudy day.

Adjust Your Sleep Routine

Use spring as a reset if the dark, chilly winter days have thrown your sleep schedule off.

Spending a lot of time in front of a computer, phone, or laptop right before bed is a horrible habit to break. These devices activate your brain, making you believe it's time to wake up.

Other tactics to improve your pre-bedtime routine include not exercising or eating heavy meals within two hours of going to bed, not drinking alcohol for at least four hours before going to bed, and avoiding caffeine in the afternoon. And, most importantly, get up at the same time every day — ideally with immediate light exposure. When you get up at the same time every day, your body and habit become more accustomed to each other, and it becomes simpler to maintain.

Keeping the place where you sleep really dark and chilly can be helpful if you're having difficulties falling or staying asleep.

Establishing a Morning Routine

Take advantage of Spring's newfound vitality by rising earlier to allow time for thought, meditation, and personal growth. This will provide a sense of calm to your day and motivate you to go about your business with zeal and purpose. Create your perfect hour, figure out what time you'll need to get up to make it happen, and then just do it!

Consider a Digital Detox 

The majority of us might easily re-evaluate our reliance on technology this spring. Too much reliance on technology, according to studies, can be hazardous to one's physical and mental health. We can considerably enrich all of our lives by focusing as much as possible on experiences away from devices. We can begin by being more conscious of how we use technology. If you're not ready for a full-fledged digital detox, start small by shutting off your phone at least an hour before bedtime and gradually increasing the amount of time you spend offline.