Simple Tips to a Healthier, Happier Lifestyle

New beginnings are not always easy, but deciding to renew yourself is always worth it — because you are worth it! Restore your mind and body by making a fresh start: Being kind to yourself using natural methods and taking back control of your surroundings.

Mother Nature gave us a bounty of gifts in terms of how to take care of ourselves, and the natural oils derived from plants are only one of those gifts. The use of essential oils for aromatherapy is shown to help ease a nervous mind, provide help for muscles, help with stress, and help you sleep better.

Pair these benefits with a dedicated moment of meditation to make the most of them while you’re relaxed. If you’re not sure where to start, try some of the basic oils for beginners:

• For calming: Copaiba oil, lavender, jasmine and chamomile
• For an upset stomach: Peppermint, ginger, lemon and cardamon
• For sore or aching muscles: Rosemary, eucalyptus, lavender and clove

Did you know that essential oils can also help you when you’re cleaning your house? Swapping out traditional house cleaning products for homemade concoctions created with essential oils, you can clean your house and leave it smelling wonderful without the use of harsh chemicals.

• Cleansing: Tea tree oil, lemon, rosemary and peppermint
• Purifying: Eucalyptus, thyme and lavender
• Air freshening: Lemon, lavender and orange

Watch your frame of mind and mood be transformed as you breathe in the naturally intoxicating aroma of plant oils. Just remember to watch out for any irritation upon contact with your skin to avoid any potential allergic reactions.

Even wolves like to keep a clean den. Having a clean and tidy place to call home is inspiring and helps to free the mind and soul, so roll up your sleeves and get ready for some serious elbow grease.

Getting rid of clutter is the first step in your cleaning journey. Deciding to do this room-by-room can be less overwhelming than pulling all your junk out at once, so pick the room you feel needs the most help and start there. Whether that’s a bedroom, closet or kitchen, the same basic principles of decluttering apply:

• Remove everything from cabinets, closets, drawers, etc. and go through every item. Yes, every item.
• Have three boxes ready: Donate, toss and keep. Anything that you no longer use, want or wear should not be kept, so decide whether to toss or donate it.

• Remember that donation centers don’t want your dirty, ripped and stained stuff any more than you do, so just throw damaged items away.

You dust and vacuum and wash dishes as you need to, but when was the last time that you gave your home a deep, thorough sanitizing ritual? Once you’ve gotten rid of extra clutter, pull on your rubber gloves and grubby clothes; here are five tips to get this home spotless.

Before you do anything, though, mix up a solution of Dawn, vinegar and warm water in a spray bottle. This all-natural, all-purpose cleaner will be your best friend as you clean house!

1. Walls are a pain to clean, but they’re something that look so amazing when the job is done that it’s worth it. To make the job suck less, attach a microfiber cloth to your steam or pad mop and simply mop your walls with a bucket filled with hot water and Dawn solution nearby.

2. Baseboards should be vacuumed first to remove any debris or hair, then wiped with a damp rag for the same reason. Once you’ve done that, carefully buff your baseboards by hand with a clean damp cloth and your all-purpose cleaner. It takes time, but what a difference it makes!

3. Remove everything from all surfaces and wipe the surfaces down with a damp cloth. Make sure to wipe off any crumbs or dust bunnies, rinsing your cloth out as needed. Spray lightly with all-purpose cleaner and buff dry. Dust everything before returning it to its place.

4. When was the last time you sanitized your appliances? To naturally sanitize and clean your dishwasher, run it on an empty wash cycle with vinegar and baking soda. This will scrub the walls of the machine and eliminate odors at the same time. Do the same with your washing machine and a few rags for added scrubbing and watch that icky ring vanish.

5. Dust light fixtures and remove the decorative glass pieces from the ceiling, hand-washing them gently in the sink with hot, soapy water. Let them air-dry, replacing any burnt-out lightbulbs with fresh LEDs.

A cleansed soul and home can do wonders for the human psyche. Get rid of the negativity in your life and decide to regain control of your life, even if it starts in baby steps.