Refresh Your Home, Refresh Your Life

Let’s face it. We’ve all been staring at the same walls in our homes for a lot longer than we’d like to admit, and in addition to getting a little stir crazy, we’d probably do well to give our homes a top-to-bottom declutter cleanout as a way to revive, refresh, and try to forget about the pandemic. Junk It Move It can help you make things happen!

Get Rid of “Stuff”

When I say junk, I don’t just mean the broken Easter baskets, the science fair projects from 2007, or the cat-clawed recliner no one wants to give away. Cleaning out junk in your home can involve everything from the good-to-eat but bad-for-your-body foods you’ve got stashed in your freezer, fridge, and pantry, to clothes that no longer fit, and every other piece of never-been-used household stuff you’re tired of looking at. We’ve all been there, and according to Family Handyman, we all have at least one junk drawer or closet. Making an effort to get rid of excess via sale, donation, or dumpster is a healthy step toward creating a more organized and healthy living environment.

Get Healthy(ish)

It’s one thing to say you want to eat healthier, and another to actually get moving in the right direction. Your best bet is baby steps. Once you’ve done a food cleanout, start replacing junk food with things you know are good for you. While it’s still fine to splurge once in a while – after all, we are still in a pandemic, and cookies are awesome – try to start prepping meals that are rich in whole grains and lots of fresh fruit and veggies. As hard as it might be, try to replace things like energy drinks and soda pop, coffee, and alcohol with more water. According to CNET, being hydrated will make you feel much better in the physical fitness department.

Send Yourself to Bed

Believe it or not, sleep – the good, restful, rejuvenative kind – is just as important to your overall health and well-being as a healthy diet. Stop sleeping with your electronic devices! You want to create a haven that’s cool, quiet, and dark. Go to bed and get up at the same time every day to get into healthy sleep patterns. If you have trouble getting in your Zs, try chamomile tea, melatonin, or other natural herbal remedies to help you rest, relax, and get your beauty sleep. If you or a partner snore, go to a sleep clinic, pronto. You’re not only annoying your partner, you could be in danger from undiagnosed sleep apnea, and a checkup is in order.

Hire Out and DIY

If you want to take on in-depth fix-it projects, there’s a lot of stuff you can do on your own, and other things that are smarter to hire out to a pro. Let’s say you decide you want a fresh coat of paint in your kitchen. You can probably handle this on your own, just as you can also plant new flowers, steam clean your tiles, and even smudge your home to get rid of bad vibes. You might want to call an expert if you’re cleaning up things like pet stains on carpet or furniture, fixing large broken appliances, or repaving a driveway. When you’re doing all of this, think about improvements that can boost your property value. If you’re planning to sell soon, take before-and-after pics and keep receipts to show off the upgrades you’ve made.

We’ve all gone a bit batty over the last year or so, but opening windows, airing out the house, and doing a top-to-bottom refresh (natural products only, please) can make you feel better inside and out. It will also help you get in heart-healthy physical activity, something we’re all sorely lacking in. Come to think of it, maybe building a new exercise room will be good for both you and your home’s value!

Junk It Move It is a husband and wife team serving the Tri-Valley and East Bay area. This dynamic duo knows moving and cleaning out can be stressful, and they make every effort to make the process easy from start to finish. Reach out today for a consultation.

This special edition article was written by guest writer, Megan Cooper, of RealLifeHome.net – thank you for your insights as we all try our best to regain some sanity this new year!