Photo by plasticrevolver.

You don’t have to wait for Spring to clean up! It always feels good to remove the clutter in your life. Here are some practical ways to clean house.

Body detox: Fulfill your New Year’s resolution to stay fit and strong by flushing away the toxins of your body. It doesn’t have to be bland or difficult either. You can find fiber in tasty brown rice, fresh fruits and vegetables. My favorite fiber-rich snack is seaweed, which you can boil or dry. Dandelion greens are also a great detoxifier, and excellent for protecting and cleansing the liver. Drinking only water at least once a week is an ancient practice in several cultures and a great way to detox, but all you have to do, really, is to drink at least 2 liters of water daily.

Clear your closet: Spring cleaning is primarily all about removing household clutter (check out Your Guide to Eco-friendly Cleaning). A clean house, flat or bedroom, encourages organization, which welcomes great energy in your home and personal space. A crowded and messy place promotes stress. Learn to let go of things, such as clothes that don’t fit you anymore or trinkets that are breeding molds in the basement just because they have sentimental value. Give them as hand-me-downs to younger relatives like your nieces and nephews, which is a great way to preserve the sentimentality of the item. Recycling is also a great way to un-clutter your home or workspace. Author Christine Dionese, L.Ac shares some tips in this article: Recycling at Work 101.

For the mind and heart: Meditation is a great way to clear your mind and attract inner peace to flush away negative emotions. First, find a spot that is most conducive for meditation. Be comfortable. Sit up straight with your spine tall and relax. Close your eyes, which will help you concentrate. Focus on your breathing, which is the best way to concentrate on freeing your mind. Don’t be afraid of distractions and let your fleeting thoughts come and go – don’t stress over them. Practice makes perfect. Read my blog post for a more detailed description on the importance of mind and emotional detoxification: First, Tell Your Inner Commentary to Shut Up.

Are you ready to declutter your life? Now’s the time to start. By the time Spring comes around, you’ll be a pro.

Karla Mercado lives in New Mexico and is the author of Balancing Tenderfoot. She is passionate about human medicine, nutrition, and writing.

Photo by Gibson Claire McGuire Regester.

We’ve been reading about beauty this week. We can put over 515 chemicals on our bodies everyday. Know the ingredients in your cosmetics and skin care products by checking in with Skin Deep.

Another way to know what’s in your lotion is to make it yourself. If you don’t have the time to obtain essential oils or time make your own lotions, you can use simple foods found at your local grocery like cucumbers for those stubborn bags under your eyes,  an advocado dry skin mask, or olive oil for a natural hair conditioner.

There are ways to stay naturally beautiful from the inside out or with Chinese medicine. Bonus: here’s how to understand the mechanisms of balding and prevent it.

Activities like sleeping and yoga affect beauty. Meditation is one way to de-stress while keeping your skin vibrant and healthy.

Over the last few years, various skin care product companies have taken note of the startling fact that 9 out of 10 young women and girls want to change at least one aspect of their body. Dove brand and its parent company Unilever have made improving self-esteem and self-image in girls a focus. There are entire websites and local organizations, like Maiden Spirit devoted to improving self-esteem in girls.

Feeling pretty? We are!

Dr. Gibran Ramos completed his six year training and internship in Naturopathic and Chinese Medicine at National College of Natural Medicine. Dr. Ramos helps patients transform their lives and optimize their well-being at a private practice in Portland, Oregon.