DOCTOK

Spring cleaning- Detox your body and mind for a fresh start

It’s time for spring cleaning. The season inspires people to detox the body and mind and declutter the homes as well as strategically organize their belongings. However, the house-cleaning practice needs to extend beyond physical areas to other aspects of our lives.  What about the toxins accumulated in our bodies due to poor eating habits and faulty lifestyles that give us diseases? What about the stress and negative thoughts that clog our minds and hamper our peace of mind? How about we make spring a season to declutter everything that stands between us and the life we wish to live?

“Spring cleaning our bodies and minds is equally important for a healthy existence,” says Pune-based counselor Juhi Tarneja, who firmly believes that a decluttered physical environment is usually a reflection of a decluttered mind and healthy body.

Benefits of decluttering the body and mind.

• After your body removes accumulated toxins from unhealthy food consumption and bad habits, you feel better to do activities that increase your happiness.
• Changing your diet by eliminating processed foods along with excessive sugar and fats in favor of fiber and water leads to better gut health and improved digestion while also reducing the bloating effect.
• You achieve better sleep quality and mental clarity by detoxing your body along with your mind through mindful eating practices, mindfulness exercises, and stress management methods.
• A clean body and mind drive your immune system to function better in fighting diseases within the body.
• A calmer mind gives you a sense of inner peace and boosts your creativity.

How to detox your body

• Cleaning always begins with washing away all the unwanted toxins from the body and drinking sufficient fluids can help you do that. The results of water consumption provide better digestive function and kidney wellness alongside skin radiance while boosting your total vitality. 
• Early morning drinking of hot water combined with lemon juice or apple cider vinegar serves as the first nutritional recommendation to cleanse your body. The daily suggested intake should be eight liquid portions that include water, herbal tea, and coconut water. 
• The diet should contain homemade meals combined with fermented foods, whole grains, seasonal vegetables, and leafy greens that help your digestive system. 
• Your digestive system needs periods of rest just as much as humans need rest breaks from their daily routines. Intermittent fasting allows your body to fix tissues while rebalancing its sugar levels and eliminating accumulated waste.
• Physical activity is a powerful way to detox your body. Exercise stimulates the lymphatic system, enhances blood circulation, and flushes out toxins through sweating. And most importantly, it releases endorphins, which are the feel-good hormones in the body. Take a brisk walk every day, or go for a swim or do some yoga. A half-hour workout daily is enough to benefit your body.

Effective ways to detox your mind

Digital detox- We cannot ignore how our daily existence has been submerged in our phones, laptops, tablets, and social media platforms. We are now facing dangerous levels of information overload, and our minds are working overtime trying to process all the data and emotions. Designate a ‘no phone/ tablet/ laptop’ hour daily and limit your screen time. Use the time to do journaling, painting, pottery, or anything that genuinely interests you.

Meditate- Meditation, deep breathing, and yoga are great ways to reduce anxiety levels, calming the nervous system and providing you with more clarity. Simple deep breathing when you are tensed, taking nature walks, being mindful and present in whatever you do, and ending your day with gratitude journaling help in releasing mental burdens, process emotions and declutter your mind of all negativity.

Let it go- Harbouring resentment, anger only stands to harm you and not the person towards whom they are directed. A wonderful spring cleaning practice would be to let go of whatever takes away your happiness. Be it a grudge, a grief, fear, or an unpleasant memory. Try forgiveness, talk to a friend or a therapist, do more of what you love, listen to music, engage in positive self-talk, and focus on the brighter side of life.

Get closer to nature- The more time you spend in nature, the more you reconnect with your core and roots. Walking barefoot on grass, being in the sun for 10-15 minutes daily, silently observing the birds, and the beauty around provides a deep sense of balance that no technology can give.

Make spring cleaning more about progress instead of perfection this year. Shed the unwanted and make room for the new. Smile. Laugh and relax more often and open doors for better health and well-being.