3 quick ways to refresh your life this spring
Posted by Claire Boote, on May 3, 2023. Tags: Health benefits, Wellbeing
Estimated reading time: 1 minute(s)
Blossom is on the trees, birds are in full song and longer, warmer days are ahead. Nature is waking up and a sense of renewal is in the air. If you’re like us, this tends to inspire a desire to freshen things up a bit. But where to start? Here are three quick and simple ways to refresh your life this spring.
Walk more
Winter encourages sloth and hibernation. Now that spring is here it’s a great time to introduce more movement into daily life. You don’t have to be a sporty type to reap the health and wellbeing benefits of exercise – one of the best workouts you can do to improve mind, body and mood may surprise you. It isn’t necessarily jumping about in a HIIT class or running 5K – one of the best exercises around is…walking.
A brisk walk can improve circulation, boost brain function, raise your heart rate and help you burn calories – and in the long-term, studies have found that walking, even for just 10 minutes a day, can help relieve depression, lower blood pressure, reduce stress, improve your cardiovascular system and add years to your life. Adding in some extra steps to your day-to-day activities, on top of a regular walk, will have you feeling revitalised in no time.
Spruce up the garden
After months of lying dormant, spring will see your garden come alive again in one of the busiest times of year for the green-fingered. Start by planning – step into your outdoor space (accompanying cup of tea is essential here) and have a good inspection of your flower beds, lawn, and any shrubs and trees. Then sit down and consider the garden overall: what colours would you like to introduce this year? Would a different seating area be nice? What about new lighting for the warm evenings ahead? And don’t forget wildlife – adding bug hotels, water features and log piles will attract the buzz of new life to your patch.
Check the RHS website for gardening advice, and Monty Don’s website for tasks to do each month.
Reorganise your underwear
Yes, spring cleaning is big on this season’s to-do list, although tackling an overstuffed underwear drawer is usually near the bottom of your priorities. But as something you use all the time, doesn’t your underwear deserve a bit more TLC?
Organising your bras will help you start every day with confidence and ease – here’s how:
- Start by removing all bras from the drawer and checking they still fit by trying them on one by one. Stand in front of a mirror and check how it looks and feels with our fitting guide. Then sort into two piles: those that fit; those that don’t (more on that later)
- Fold moulded cup bras and stack against each other to help maintain the shape.
- Consider ordering into colour or occasion such as lounge bras, sports bras, working in the office bras, going out bras, date night bras…
- Keep drawers (and the rest of your wardrobe) smelling fresh and free from moths by using natural repellents such as mint leaves, cedarwood rings or cotton wool soaked in a few drops of lavender or peppermint essential oil.
- For the bras that are damaged or don’t fit, drop into an Against Breast Cancer bra bank or send by post (more details here), or take to a roadside textile recycling bank – Recycle Now’s search facility will help you locate your nearest ones.
