Ah, springtime. Flowers are blooming, birds are chirping and that urge to clean is starting to tickle. When you think of spring-cleaning, you probably think of traditional cleaning and organizing, but what about spring-cleaning for your life? Rearranging and reorganizing can pertain to areas in your life that you may not even have thought of, such as your exercise routine, your makeup bag, and your mind, to name a few.

Tips for Spring-Cleaning, the Aging Backwards Way:

1. Change your workout.

Your body has a unique way of adapting to routine,¹ so if you’ve been doing the same, exact workout for a while, this would be a good time to change. Choose an exercise routine that incorporates variety, including cardio intervals, strength training with weights, dance and yoga. According to the Mayo Clinic,² exercise combats chronic disease, improves your mood, and helps you sleep better and manage your weight, to name a few of the numerous benefits. Why not try Dr. Al Sears’ PACE program³ for a change of “pace”? Find out how you can work out for just ten minutes a day and burn body fat, pump up your energy and strengthen your heart and lungs.

2. Spring-clean your makeup case.

Most women accumulate cosmetics by the bagful over the course of a year. Spring-cleaning your makeup case once a year makes room for new products and colors. You may even find products at the bottom of your makeup bag or drawer that you forgot about, but that you really like. Take time to wash your brushes thoroughly, too. Natural oils and embedded makeup can accumulate deep in the bristles over time, inviting bacteria. Using Dawn Dishwashing Liquid is a shortcut to thoroughly removing oil from brushes. It’s even been used to clean wildlife birds that have been exposed to oil spills.⁴ If it can clean the birds, it can certainly remove oil from your brushes.

3. Reshape your attitude.

If you’ve found yourself suffering from the “winter blues,” springtime has a way of raising your spirits. Take time to make a list of all the things for which you feel grateful.  Gratitude is good for the soul and making a list reminds you of all the blessings in your life. Dispel old anger, call a friend you may have had a falling out with, or stop procrastinating and start that new project.

4. Purge.

This is a good time to go through the refrigerator and throw away all the expired foods. I keep up on disposing of spoiled fruits and vegetables, but around springtime I like to read the expiration dates on jars and staples such as condiments and salad dressings to make sure I’m not exceeding the expiration dates.

5. Clear your workspace.

With today’s fast pace, many of us find ourselves buried under piles of “important” papers in our workspace, whether it’s at home or at a traditional job. An organized workspace seems to invite new creativity and a renewed zeal for the job at hand.  Tampa Bay, Florida Television Producer Sandi McKenna says, “Spring-cleaning my closet and clearing off my desk set the wheels in motion for a clear head, refocused energy and increased productivity.  Everything in its place — I can breathe again!  Instead of being overwhelmed at the thought of another day, the path is now clear both literally and figuratively.”

Let springtime be a time for renewal, reorganization and revitalization.

References

1. http://www.alsearsmd.com/signup/pace-google1/.
2. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/exercise/HQ01676.
3. http://www.alsearsmd.com/pace/.
4. http://www.ibrrc.org/oiled_bird_procedures.html.

[Ed. note: Jackie Silver is Aging Backwards. She shares her secrets, tips, and shortcuts in her new book, Aging Backwards: Secrets to Staying Young, on her web site, AgingBackwards.com, on the syndicated TV show, Daytime, on Clear Channel radio's Mix 100.7, as a weekly columnist in The Tampa Tribune and as a sought-after speaker. For more information, click here.]

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