NIC DE CAIRE, SPECIAL TO THE NEWS JOURNAL
I love how this time of year changes people’s behaviors. It seems to start once the weather breaks 60 degrees and the sun comes out.
You see more smiles on the street. People say, “Good morning,” and actually hold the door for you. You can almost smell the happiness in the air.
It’s like the winter months made them hibernate, and now they are ready to be human again. And not surprisingly, this is when people start to work on projects they’ve been putting off.
The vegetable garden gets tilled. The shed gets a new coat of paint. The broken door is fixed. The house gets power washed and the gutters get cleaned. We switch out our winter clothes for spring time clothes.
Welcome to spring cleaning.
We focus so much on things we have been neglecting around the house, but we don’t think about ourselves in the process.
This time of year is great to think about how you can spring clean yourself for a healthier lifestyle.
Here are some “cleaning” tips to start off the season right:
1. Get outside – You have been cooped up in the house or a gym all winter long. Now is the time to get outside. I find that people will go for a longer walk outside than on a treadmill. People don’t view it as a chore. Take advantage of all the beautiful parks that Delaware has to offer. Start walking trails. My favorite is Brandywine Creek State Park.
2. Throw it out – Go through your pantry and see what you have been storing all winter long. Get rid of the food that isn’t making you healthier. I would tell you to throw it out, but since there are so many people in need, donate it to your local empowerment center. I like to get rid of anything that has an expiration date in the next decade. Somehow that doesn’t seem like the best choice for your body. Try to choose foods without preservatives.
3. Eat local – Take advantage of local farmers markets and food co-ops to eat healthy fruits and vegetables that are in season. Try some new recipes with your healthy purchases. Not only are these foods healthy, delicious and fresh, but you are supporting local businesses. Check out the new Newark Natural Foods Co-op in the Newark Shopping Center. It is beautiful.
4. Clean your desk – Having a messy desk where you work can create stress and reduce productivity. Starting your day with an organized work space – even if you are busy – can help you to better focus on what you’re doing and also allow for healthier choices. I like to take the first five minutes of my morning to organize my desk so I can anticipate how I will spend my day and focus my attention.
5. Relationships – We all have unhealthy relationships that could use some spring cleaning. It might be a friend, coworker or even a spouse. Cleaning out these unhealthy relationships will allow you to focus on your own happiness instead of always dealing with unneeded stress from them. I suggest honesty – explain how the relationship causes you stress. If you need to, tell them you read a newspaper column that told you to eliminate unhealthy relationships. I am sure they won’t mind.
As you begin to make a list of all the things around the house that need a spring cleaning, make sure you do not neglect the most important thing.
You!
Nic DeCaire, owner of Fusion Fitness Center in Newark, has been training clients for more than a decade.