The top 5 ways to spring clean your life

29 Sep The top 5 ways to spring clean your life

Spring has sprung and I couldn’t think of a better time to spring clean your body, health and lifestyle. Now is a great time to evaluate all those important areas of your life to see where you can improve your physical and mental health.

So here are my top 5 areas of your wellness routine to refresh for a healthier and happier life.

1. Exercise

There are literally countless reasons as to why you need to move on a regular basis (reduce heart disease, lose weight, improve your mental health, reduce stress and so on). So if you haven’t been doing any exercise recently, now is the time to start.

The warmer weather opens up a whole range of fun ways to exercise – hike in the national parks, explore your neighbourhood on foot or discover a new area with a bushwalk.

The warmer weather means it is the ideal time to hit the beach – and I’m not talking about Bondi, Coogee or Cronulla. There are many small and quiet beaches where you have plenty of space to do some laps.

If you don’t like sand in your swimmers, maybe try one of many pools scattered throughout Sydney.

If you are already exercising regularly (and congrats if you are), maybe it time to change your routine? Your body does get used to the same routine after a while so why not shake things up and find a new challenge? You would be amazed at the results.

2. What and how much you eat

During cold weather, we tend to eat a lot of comfort, stodgy type foods which may not be the healthiest option. With the warmer weather approaching, lighter and healthier options are a lot more appealing.

I always suggest to my clients, who are looking to lose weight, to start a food journal. Record for two weeks (say through MyFitnessPal) everything they eat and drink (snacks included). This can be a real eye opener as it can help you understand your eating habits and patterns, and help you identify the good and not-so-good foods you eat on a regular basis.

Do a clean out of your fridge, freezer and pantry and toss out all those bad snacks and treats you know you should be avoiding. Replace them with healthier options and ideally foods which are in season (to save on costs).

3. Drinking

Ah yes this is a big one!

During COVID, a lot of us got into bad habits when it came to food and alcohol. Now that lockdowns are far behind us, plus the warmer weather, it time to evaluate how much booze you are consuming and can you cut it down.

Try to have at least four alcohol free days a week. Have a glass of water for every alcoholic drink you consume. Stick with dry wines (less sugar), champagne (brut or dry), vodka soda, gin and diet tonic, Paloma (tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and soda water), rum and diet coke, and light beer.

Steer away from those full strength and craft beers, creamy and sugary cocktails (and that means Long Island Iced Teas, Margaritas, Daiquiris, Pina Coladas) and mulled wine. Also look at drinks which are served in smaller glasses (avoid upsizing).

If you need some extra tips to drink less alcohol, check out my blog.

4. Sleeping

Never underestimate just how important sleeping well is. Having a bad night’s sleep not only makes you feel tired throughout the day, but you find you are moodier and more irritable, and makes it hard to focus on the most simple tasks.

Worse yet not getting a decent night’s sleep can increase your risk of chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

Daylight savings can further affect your sleep cycle and makes it more challenging in getting that much needed 7 to 8 hours of shuteye a night.

Use Spring as a reset when it comes to better sleeping habits as it is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. Stick with these tried and tested tips:

• Go to bed around the same time every night and wake up at the same time each morning (and that includes weekends)
• Sleep with a temperature around 17 to 19 degrees and keep your bedroom dark and quiet
• Invest in high quality mattress and bedding
• Keep TVs and devices out of the bedroom

Read this blog I put together for more tips how to sleep better.

5. Check in with your doctor

Make this the time to get your annual check-ups to ensure the insides of your body are in tip top shape.

Your skin is the biggest organ of your body, so book in with a dermatologist to make sure your skin is all clear.

When was the last time you saw the dentist (may have been longer ago than what you think)? Good dental health is essential to achieving and maintaining physical and emotional well-being throughout your life.

What about your eyes? Again, if you can’t remember the last time you had your eyes checked, book in for an examination.

Make sure you are up to date with all your screenings and immunisation (bowel, cervical screening, mammogram, prostate etc). Have your doctor check your blood pressure, cholesterol, red and white blood cells etc, to detect any issues (the earlier you detect any issues, the more successful the treatment will be).

And don’t forget your mental health. This is just as important if not more than your physical health. If you are struggling, then get the support and treatment you need to overcome any depression, anxiety or disorder you may be experiencing.