Spring Clean Your Life: Things to Do for Yourself in 2021
When the weather starts to warm up, spring cleaning is a great way to usher in the new season and refresh our spaces. Although home organization and deep cleaning can be cathartic in its own right, it’s also a wonderful time to take a closer look at your lifestyle and make some helpful changes. Check out these suggestions on how to revamp your life in the spring. The best part is that you can refer back to them throughout the year whenever you need them.
Check on Your New Year’s Resolutions
Most people make a resolution at the start of the new year, but the majority have already given up on them by March. If that’s you come spring, don’t fret. This is the perfect time to assess why your initial resolution didn’t pan out and make some changes to help you succeed going forward. If you have found success, what’s helped you the most so far? How can you build upon that going forward and continue to achieve your goal? While you’re setting resolutions, it’s important to make goals that are short, practical and measurable. Rather than opting to just lose weight, for example, you may start by vowing to exercise at least 10 minutes every day, then 20, then 30 and so on.
Restructure Your Budget
Where could you cut corners to save a little more each month? What expenses do you have the greatest challenge paying? If you are like many other Americans, rent/mortgage, credit card debt and student loans are your largest monthly expenses. If debt is making it hard for you to gain any sort of financial security, research how to defer student loans or options for refinancing or forbearance. Negotiating with lenders is always the best way to get a direct insight on what your options are. You should also consider your savings and insurance policies. Is it time to add more to your 401(k) or start thinking more seriously about retirement? Maybe there are riders on insurance policies costing you extra money you can remove.
Look Closely at Your Relationships
As life moves on, so do we. People are bound to change over the course of a relationship, and it’s important to assess whether your current social circle is the one you want to have. Whether you’ve been putting off addressing the communication issues with your partner or feeling distant from your best friend, it’s time to figure out why and make an action plan. If you really struggle to resolve issues or assert yourself, consider therapy. A licensed counselor can help you recognize the underlying issues affecting you and your relationships and learn how to engage in them in a way that’s satisfying and healthy for everyone involved.
Infuse Your Diet with Fresh Food
You don’t have to be a vegan or vegetarian to start eating fresh and healthy. Opt to eat as few processed and frozen meals as possible and learn how to opt prepare your favorite recipes from scratch. If you are the type of person who relies on restaurants to cook for you, then spring is a good time to make a commitment to saving money and learning your way around the kitchen. How you eat affects everything from your daily moods to your sleep pattern. Anyone can find it hard to eat clean all the time, so make sure you look for new foods that keep healthy eating exciting.
