06 Apr How to Destress and Get Organized This Spring
Spring is a time for new beginnings, and for many people, spring cleaning! While opening your windows, packing away your winter gear, and doing some deep cleaning is refreshing, did you know it’s also good for your mental health?
Taking simple steps to clean and organize your home can reduce stress and help you feel calm, focused, and more positive. In today’s post, we’re sharing how you to destress and get organized this spring.
Refresh Your Spaces and Decor
Your home environment can have a significant impact on your mental well-being. The things you see, hear, and smell while you’re at home influence your stress levels. So, this spring, consider refreshing your spaces and decor to create the least stressful home environment possible.
Adding fresh plants and flowers is great first step. Not only do plants purify the air in your home, but tending to them can be a calming and stress-reducing activity.
Consider changing out the bulbs in your lights from harsh or white tones to warmer ones. Harsh lights can be agitating and anxiety-producing, while warm lighting promotes relaxation.
A simple switch of your home decor can also help you destress. Decorating with blue, lavender, and beige tones creates a peaceful ambiance. Try using them in paint colors, throw pillows, artwork, and other decorations around your home.
Declutter and Clean
For some people, going through clutter and cleaning is stressful in and of itself. However, there is a connection between cleaning and your mental health! Studies have shown that people who live in cluttered and messy spaces are more likely to feel depressed and fatigued. The presence of clutter can also make it harder to focus and complete projects.
Decluttering helps you feel more focused, improves your mood, and is good for your overall mental health!
Eliminating the clutter in your life can start with a project as quick as cleaning out that junk drawer – we all have one! Start small and move through your home room by room. You’ll find that, as you go, you feel better, more organized, and more focused.
Make Healthy Eating Simple
When you’re stressed, it’s easy to reach for convenience foods that momentarily make you feel satisfied. The reality is that processed foods and beverages (especially ones with lots of sugar, caffeine, and alcohol) don’t improve your mood or support your mental and physical health.
Keeping your fridge stocked and organized with fresh, good-for-you foods and drinks will help you make smart choices in moments of stress. Keep healthy snacks toward the front of your fridge and pantry so you can quickly grab them. Be sure to have leafy greens, berries, seeds, herbal teas, and even dark chocolate on hand. They are foods that fight stress!
Establish an Exercise Area
There are many mental and physical benefits to moving your body and exercising, and stress management is an important one. From low-impact exercise like yoga to higher intensity fitness classes, physical movement lifts your mood and increases your energy. Clearing and creating a dedicated space for exercise in your home is a fantastic way to prioritize moving your body.
You don’t need to dedicate an entire room or a whole side of your basement to exercise. A clean corner or spot prepared with a yoga mat, weights, and any other accessories you need will do the trick.
Use your space to do exercises and workouts that feel good and lift your spirits. Check out our virtual and on-demand classes for workouts you can do right from your new exercise area!
Clearing a space for exercise makes it easy to prioritize moving your body and working out at home.
Streamline Your Schedule to Destress and Get Organized
When your life is chaotic and messy, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed and unfocused. By creating a schedule that meets your needs and fits your lifestyle, you can stay on top of the things that need your attention. When you simplify your schedule, you can focus your energy on the moment at hand.
Start by evaluating your daily routines: where you need to be, when, and what you need when you’re there. Next, note ways you can make each step of your day easier for yourself. For example, if packing kids’ lunches in the morning constantly has you feeling frantic, try putting them together the night before.
Taking control of your calendar and making sure you’re prepared for every part of your day will help you feel less stressed. Plus, you may find yourself with spare time for tasks and projects you otherwise struggle to find time for!
Looking for other ways to destress your mind and body? Join us for one of our VIBE Yoga classes, in person, virtually, or on-demand! Whether you’re brand new to yoga or a seasoned yogi, we have classes for you. You can learn more about your yoga classes here.
