Life often feels like its passing us by, and between work commitments and a mountain of things to do at home there is often little time to relax and recharge your batteries. No matter what the season, sometimes all you need is a spring clean; a chance to lighten your load and leave yourself feeling fresh. And the best part is that it’s easier than you think!
Switch it off
Allocate yourself half an hour each day. Switch off your phone, push the to-do list aside and do whatever you like – be it reading, blogging, cooking your favourite meal or just closing your eyes and appreciating the time on your own. It might seem difficult to find the time at first, but soon it will become a much-appreciated part of your daily routine.
Eat healthily
Making healthy choices will leave you feeling much more fresh and ready to handle life’s daily stresses. It’s often easy to forget something as simple as drinking water, so carry a water bottle to ensure that staying hydrated becomes a habit. Pack a healthy lunch so that you’re not tempted by bad food choices in your lunch break. Eating and drinking healthily leaves you feeling happier and healthier, and is a great way to save money.
Forget about technology items
Go easy on the technology! So many of us have several different products that have the same functions these days; computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones… Always having technology to hand can leave us prone to ignoring the outside world and becoming completely bogged down by work emails after hours and immersed in social media. Consider selling your iPad and dedicate the spare time to doing the things you think you never have time to do. You will be amazed at how much you are able to get done and, better still, the weight you manage to take off your shoulders.
Socialise
Take a night off to take your friends or family out to dinner. Taking people out is a great way to socialise and catch up with your loved ones without piling pressure on yourself; you don’t have to cook or clean, you just need to show up with a smile on your face and enjoy yourself. Ignore work projects and things you “should” be doing for just one night – it doesn’t seem like the most productive way to get things done, but sometimes just stepping back and taking some time to get out of a stressed mind set is the best way to feel motivated and offer yourself a fresh perspective.
De-clutter
Removing unnecessary clutter is a great way to de-stress. Play some loud music and spend a day organising your home. Throw away old paperwork you don’t need, so you don’t have to struggle to close the filing cabinet anymore. Sort out clothes that you don’t wear to donate to a charity shop, so you cut down the time you spend looking for something to wear in the morning. It’s easy to eliminate small inconveniences and allow less stress into your life; the key is simply knowing how.
Leanne Hendry is a freelance lifestyle and travel writer from Portsmouth. She advocates some time away from technology and suggests you sell your iPad and consider a relaxing break from technology.
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