How To Spring Clean Your Health
As spring starts again, many individuals engage in spring cleaning throughout their home, using this change to warmer weather to open, dust, and clean windows, letting stale air out and fresh in, along with many other deep cleaning tasks. New life outside, clean life inside, after all. But although physically cleaning the house is a good idea, many individuals forget about cleaning their bodies and making sure they are in good health. Why not also apply the spring cleaning philosophy to health as well? Start reading to learn the basics of spring cleaning your health now.
Toss Out The Old And Expired
Even with the best intentions, many individuals end up with old and expired products and medications. The most popular among women, of course, are old tubes of lipstick, mascara, and other makeup. Those who keep switching skincare products often also end up with expired half empty containers. Many also find they have over-the-counter painkillers, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, expire before they use them all.
Take this time to search through all your drawers and cabinets. Gather all these products and check their labels. Throw away anything past its expiry date according to directions on the bottle. If in doubt with medication, consult a pharmacist for assistance to be on the safe side.
Continue reading to learn about appointments when spring cleaning your health.
Schedule Health Appointments
A variety of health appointments are necessary for individuals to ensure they remain as healthy as possible and to detect potential illnesses early. These appointments include an annual physical, dental, and eye exam. Of course, some individuals will also need to schedule appointments for a mammogram, colonoscopy, and other health issues more specific to age, gender, and often at a different frequency than once a year.
Although there is a selection of appointments necessary every year, many individuals let them slide. Some forget while others believe they are simply not a priority. Even if there is nothing wrong, scheduling these regular appointments is vital to ensure everything stays that way. Spring is the perfect time to call up your doctor, dentist, and other healthcare professionals to schedule appointments you may have missed in the past. For those you must do annually, doing them all in the spring is an excellent strategy for remembering them.
Continue reading to learn how the outdoors helps spring clean your health.
Take It Outside
Although there are plenty of opportunities to be outside and active during the winter, due to the cold weather, many find themselves unwilling to venture out. Additionally, since the days are shorter and typically there are fewer sunny days during the winter, individuals get far less vitamin D than they do in the spring and summer. Thus, when spring rolls around, it is important to take activities outside. Exercising outside, such as going for a walk or run, or doing simple things like planting a garden or reading in a lawn chair are great.
Vitamin D, though it is found in some fortified foods such as milk, is most often absorbed through sun exposure. It is beneficial as it helps build strong bones and lowers the risk of many cancers and other severe medical conditions, among other benefits. Some even believe the sun is linked to lowering depression and other mental illnesses, such as seasonal affective disorder. Besides all of this, fresh air always does the body good.
Continue reading to learn how actually spring cleaning the house can help with your health.
Declutter The House
Yes, cleaning your home can also help with your health. Specifically, cleaning can remove many allergens and detriments to health, such as expired food. It also helps clear the mind and significantly boost mental health. While everyone’s spring cleaning will look different, start by cleaning out the fridge and pantry, scrubbing the shower and tub, cleaning the windows, and dusting all surfaces. This is also a fantastic time to get rid of clothing you no longer wear or other items in the house you no longer use and donate them to a local charity. Make a list of the tasks you would normally do during the spring cleaning season and start working on it!
Continue reading to learn how to spring clean your diet for better health.
Change Up Your Diet
Winter is often a season of indulgence with the different holidays scattered throughout it. Also, the savory meals tend to be heavier in nature and make individuals more prone to weight gain. One of the reasons for this is individuals need more fat in the winter to stay warm if they live in a cooler climate. As well, more food tends to be imported or genetically modified in the winter so the selection can remain somewhat varied. When spring rolls around, however, things change.
Spring is the perfect time of year to get your diet on track. One of the most popular choices is to visit local farmer’s markets, which typically start opening in the spring, to buy fresh produce. Even if food must be transported, it also helps to eat based on the season and try new fruits and vegetables each week. Furthermore, the warmer weather lessens the need and desire for heavier comfort foods and shifts the optimum meals to lighter and healthier choices.
When it comes down to it, spring is the perfect time to brush the dust off and make sure your health is where it should be.