Pack Up All Your Cares And Woes ... Here We Go

Energy Express

EnergyExpress 0323

May 2023 Issue
Energy Express by Marilynn Preston


Spring cleaning isn’t just for crowded closets and messy garages, and it’s certainly not just for the women folk.

It’s something we all do because it makes us feel so satisfied when it’s over, and spring is the perfect time to take it on. In fact, I’ve read about communities that spring clean together, meeting in little groups, moving from one home to the next, talking, laughing, making the un-fun more fun because everyone is pitching in together. I’m pretty sure adult beverages are involved.

Here are three ways to clean up your own act this spring when it comes to your personal well-being. Pick one that creates a little buzz of interest as you read it... maybe all three. It’s probably something you’ve wanted to do for a long time, like a kitchen pantry makeover, but you never felt the time was right.

It’s spring! The time is right. The benefits are awesome. Just do it, and see how good you feel.


SPRING CLEAN YOUR GEAR.

I know many of my dear readers live a vibrant, active life. I salute you! So consider this a reminder to take some time in the next week or so to check out your gear. Golf clubs clean? Rollerblades repaired? Fresh batteries in your drone?

If your bike’s been collecting cobwebs over the winter, wash it down, tune it up and make sure the brakes and tires are ready to roll.

If you’re dragging out last year’s running shoes, pay attention to the look and feel of the shoe. Are the bottoms worn thin? Is there enough cushioning and support to prevent the kind of foot and leg injuries that happen, over time, from running on worn-out shoes?

It’s hard to think of giving up comfy old running shoes that feel as cozy as slippers, but this spring, think again. Pay now, or you may pay later, with sore feet and funky knees.


SPRING CLEAN YOUR KITCHEN.

This may be hard to swallow, but research has shown that people with clean, orderly kitchens tend to eat healthier food—in smaller amounts—than people who work in sloppy spaces with lots of clutter.

Do your best to declutter your countertops. Wipe up messes. When dirty dishes arise, wash them and store them neatly. (Am I beginning to sound like your mother?)

Next, dig into the fridge—especially the corners—where the fruitcake from last Christmas is hiding next to something smelly that could be last month’s casserole.

Be brave.

Then, be braver. Go through your kitchen cabinets or pantry, and rid yourself of as much processed food as you can. If you don’t know why you’re better off without it, you’ve skipped several hundred of my columns. Do it anyway.

Then you have a choice. You can toss your rejects, honoring their junk food status, or you can pass it all on to organized non-profit food pantries that will welcome it.

The final step in this cleansing springtime makeover is to replenish your shelves and your life with real food, or foods that are minimally processed, like soups, whole grains, nuts and seeds.

Read labels! Watch for added sugars, toxic chemicals and unpronounceable additives. I know this sounds a bit hardcore, but this is what spring cleaning looks like. If you don’t keep junk in the house, you’ll eat less of it. If you can’t get rid of all of it at once, keep it on the highest shelf and consume it sparingly.


SPRING CLEAN YOUR BRAIN.

Your brain gets cluttered, too; also stressed, distracted and dysfunctional. Too much technology, too much incoming information and too little time to stop being busy and sit still in a quiet and comfortable space and just listen to the sound of your breath.

This spring, set aside a few minutes a day to let your brain dust settle. Mop up negative thoughts and sweep them away, so positive thoughts can sparkle and shine. You can do this sitting in a chair or meditating on a cushion, either alone or in a group. Where and when isn’t nearly as important as just doing it, even if you’re worried you’re doing it wrong.

Let go of worry. There’s no wrong way to spring clean.

 

ENERGY EXPRESS-O!
LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD  
“Keep only those things that speak to your heart.
Then take the plunge and discard all the rest.”
— Marie Kondo —

Marilynn Preston is the author of Energy Express, America's longest-running healthy lifestyle column. Her book All Is Well: The Art {and Science} of Personal Well-Being is available on Amazon and elsewhere. For more on personal well-being, visit www.MarilynnPreston.com.  © 2023 Energy Express, Ltd.

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