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April Showers bring May Flowers! After a very long winter, Spring has finally arrived. There is something magical about this time of year when the Earth begins to wake up from the Winter slumber and renew itself. While we may still have a little way to go before we really get to enjoy the warmth and light that comes with Spring, now is a great time to think about what we can do to wake up from our Winter slumber, renew ourselves, find more balance in our lives and start working on how we’re going to “bloom” with the Spring. Now that Spring is here, let's get going on some spring cleaning.
Spring cleaning shouldn’t be limited to household chores. After a long winter, our minds and bodies could use a good cleanse too. Here are some great Spring cleaning rituals not only for your home, for your mind and body as well. Let's get started on our spring cleanse:
1. De-clutter your living space. Too much physical stuff can weigh you down mentally. Having a clear space makes for a calming environment. When you walk into a room that is disorganized, chaotic, and full of stuff you immediately feel weighted down. The energy and vibes are heavy and full. When you organize and clear that same space out and give everything it's own place the energy instantly feels light, peaceful, and calming.
• Start by getting rid of anything you no longer need. A great rule of thumb to apply when de-cluttering is to ask yourself: Do I need it? Does it serve a purpose? Do I love it? According to the Konmari method of organization from Marie Kondo, you consider whether or not an item brings you joy if it does not bring you joy you let it go.
• Next kick expired food, medication and beauty products to the curb. If you haven’t worn it or used it in two years, get rid of it. Be sure to check the expiration dates on beauty products, if that mascara has been in your makeup bag since your junior year of college it's time to toss it. Most beauty products have their suggested shelf date printed on them. Donate items that are in reasonably good condition to an organization or charity, donate books to your local library or a Little Free Library (https://littlefreelibrary.org/).
2. Finally, clear out mental and emotional clutter. Identifying mental and emotional clutter is a little trickier than household clutter because you aren’t physically tripping over it, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t in the way.
• Identify the situations and relationships in your life that are draining and determine a plan of action to deal with them.
• Challenge limiting beliefs and ideas about yourself and how things “should be”. Are you holding on to goals, unrealistic expectations, and ideas that no longer align with who you are or what you hope to achieve?
• Allow yourself to let go of the past to make room for new things to come into your life. Let go of old labels, expectations, and practices that are standing in the way of new growth and opportunities.
De-cluttering is about more than just cleaning out your room or closet, it’s about letting go and allowing yourself to move forward. Try this clearing ritual to help you let go of the things that are taking up space and no longer serve you. Start by writing a list of things that no longer serve you, or things that are emotionally taking up space. When you are done writing your list allow yourself to focus on letting each individual one go. Acknowledge the thoughts and feelings attached and then consciously let them go. You can burn the list or tear it up to symbolize your letting go and moving forward. This will give you an emotional sense of peace and calm, a clear soul space.
3. Detox your body When we’re getting rid of “excess”, it’s important to remember that our bodies can collect a buildup of clutter too. Over the course of our lifetime, our bodies have stored the preservatives and toxins that we take in through food, water, prescriptions, and the environment. These toxins and prescriptions are stored in our cells and tissues and clog our bodies' natural ability to function properly.
Doing a detox is like hitting a reset button for your body and can help to increase your energy levels, rid the body of excess waste, improve digestion, strengthen the immune system, not to mention give you beautiful glowing skin.
Brilliant Bodywork offers a variety of ways to detox including our M’Lis Detoxification program (http://brilliantbodywork.com/about/blog/mlis-detoxification-program), Ionic Foot Baths, Sauna Treatments, Full Body Dry Brush Treatments and our Infrared Slimming Body Treatment/Contouring
4. Shed your Winter Coat. After spending the first part of the year layering serums, balms, and oils on our skin to fight against the dreaded winter skin, warmer air and increased humidity mean our skin is about to be in for a shock.
Start prepping for summer skin care by sloughing off dead skin and unblocking pores with a facial. Speak with your esthetician about switching from a harsh scrub to a gentle exfoliating cleanser and ask for recommendations for something lighter than your heavy winter moisturizer.
If your “hooves” are feeling a bit rough, consider getting a pedicure or purchasing a Baby Foot Peel from our Boutique (http://brilliantbodywork.com/about/blog/baby-foot-experience).
5. Stop and Smell the Flowers. Life happens quickly, it is important to find a way to quiet our minds and make quality time for ourselves every day. As you Spring clean and declutter, look for an area of your life where you can take a “time-out” from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Simply be for a moment, feel your breath, quiet your mind and take a moment to just be present and mindful. Make some time to do something that makes your soul happy, something that brings you peace and makes you feel calm. This can be as simple as a daily walk, working on a craft project or hobby, or spending time listening to your favorite music.
I make time once a week to go to my favorite coffee shop in the morning and read my book for a bit. Taking this time is a little weekly ritual I do for myself, it helps me be more mindful and brings me peace and joy. Find the thing that does this for you. A regular yoga or meditation practice are great ways to take a timeout for mindfulness that can be found almost anywhere and can be very reasonable in price. You could plant a garden; If you have limited or no outdoor space, plant an herb garden in your kitchen or consider potted plants. Having a connection to the Earth is extremely grounding and therapeutic.
Spend some time this season working on your spring cleaning and creating new healthy habits and routines. Remember, life's a garden, dig it!