Gentle Spring Cleanse

Spring Cleaning of 
Body and Mind

Spring is a time of renewal and new beginnings. It is also a time when we often utter the words spring cleaning. 
 
Spring cleaning is most notorious for the yearly freakout involved in organizing closets and cleaning up the house. A frantic time when the "everything must go" mentality could drive you nuts. A clean, organized home is great, but if this practice makes you feel like you are going to break out in hives, maybe it's time to shift your focus. This year I would like you to consider a different take on spring cleaning, one that focuses on your wellness. 
 
Current events, relationships, finances, family, pollution, noise, and health concerns might have you feeling like a hot mess. You might feel like setting the house on fire and just starting from scratch, or perhaps you just need a little TLC to get yourself back into gear. Whatever is happening in your life, you can always take a beat to asses and refresh. I invite you to try this mind and body spring cleaning ideas for one week to help get you started.

Take a deep breath 
Mindful breathing is the easiest, cheapest, most accessible way to flip the script. Here is what you do:
Stop what you are doing. Close your eyes (unless you are driving) and take one deep belly breath. Inhale through your nose to the count of 4. Hold that breath in for 2 seconds. Release that breath slowly to the count of 6 or 8. Repeat this for a total of 5 breaths. Open your eyes and continue with your day.  You can use this simple, quick exercise anytime you are feeling overwhelmed. Try it in the morning as you wake up for a calm start of your day. 

Hydrate
Water is a key component of detoxification and maintaining balance in all body systems. Aim to drink half your weight in oz of water.  
You can enhance your hydration experience by adding fruit infused water into the mix.
Use this recipe for bonus antioxidant power and flavor. 
Ingredients:
•  1 organic  cucumber,  sliced •  1 organic lemon, sliced •  A handful of  organic  mint to  taste •  1 organic orange, sliced
Directions:Put  all  ingredients  in  a  1  liter  jar  filled  with  filtered  water  and  let  sit overnight  in  the  fridge.

Drink mineral rich broth before bed
Bone and vegetable broths are a rich source of minerals. Minerals are required for many metabolic processes in your body, including detoxification and immune function. Adding broths to your diet is an easy way to increase your intake of soothing and nourishing minerals. Have one cup of either bone or vegetable broth before going to bed. 
Preparing bone broth at home is easy and is an excellent  way of supporting and healing the gut.
Recipe:
1.  Place the leftover bones of a whole organic chicken roast in a crockpot and fill with filtered water.
2.  Add one spoonful of vinegar and let sit for one hour (helps detach minerals from bones).
3.  Cook on high heat for seven hours. 
4.  Remove bones from broth.
5.  Sift broth into mason jars and refrigerate.
 
For a vegetable broth, use Rebeca Katz Magic Mineral Broth recipe.
 

Have a power salad for lunch
Eating colorful vegetables is a great way to support balance. Dark, leafy greens, for example, are a great source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. 
Including a protein source in your salad is supportive of detoxification, weight loss, immune support, and 
Here are some ingredients to include in your salads:
Kale
Spinach
Cucumber
Avocado
Carrots
Peppers
Organic chicken
Salmon
Nuts and seeds
Eggs
 
 

Disconnect from screens and connect with self and nature
Taking a break from social media is like going on a spa day for the mind. 
Choose a day or two this week and disconnect from social media altogether. The rest of the week, try to disconnect by 5pm so you can start unwinding and connecting with your family and self. 
Use this time to step outside and experience nature. Go for a walk, a hike, or a run. 
 
Other activities to consider are:
reading for leisure
guided meditations
preparing a new recipe
talking with friends
dancing
working on manifesting by making a list of things you need to let go off and things you are welcoming/calling into your life.

Sleep more
In this era of tv, social media, and work binging, there is a tendency to ignore sleep.  
Sleep is a time for recovery and repair. Reducing our sleep hours is extremely detrimental to health. 
During this week, aim for 8 hours of sleep. 
To support restful sleep, try to incorporate a peaceful bedtime routine at least 30 minutes before bedtime.
Reduce your light exposure. Shut down all screens and use as little light as possible.
Practice relaxation exercises. Use yoga poses like these. Use breathwork.
Do a short, or long guided meditation you can drift into sleep with.
Self-massage
Be in bed by 10:00-10:30pm

Use these suggestions for one week, and you will see how your body starts feeling the love. You don't have to do all of them every day.  But make sure to honor yourself by including each of them at least once this week. 
There is no greater benefit to health than creating a connection with yourself that will allow you to create healthful habits inspired by self-love.  This is the key to sustainable and optimal health. Honor yourself this spring and every day and your vitality, joy, and zest will bloom.

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