1. Clean out your closet...
Take your old clothes, clothes that don't suit you, clothes that don't fit, clothes that still have the label on that you know, deep down, you won't ever wear. This task can be daunting. We're always bound to thing 'I will wear it one day', but sometimes you just wont. If its still new or newish sell it on eBay or organise a swap party with your friends (a great way to get rid of the old, get new stuff AND socialise). If its had it's day for most, but is still wearable, donate it to charity. It might be hard letting go of some things, but it will make you feel so good.
2. ...Now do the rest with your bookshelf...
or cd rack, or whatever else may need a good revising. Take anything still of worth and sell it. Blackwells is great for selling second hand books. Anything you don't think will sell, donate to charity. If you're anything like me, you will of collected a number of books over the years, but now I've discovered some books I want to read I don't want to necessarily own. Thats the beauty of a library card. Of course I've kept my favourites, like my Harry Potters and my modern classics I read at school (I just know I want to keep The Great Gatsby even if I didn't enjoy it at A-level). When you've cleared out your shelves you'll have room for an assortment of other things.
3... Now go and get beautiful things to fill the empty spaces.
GO! Go buy clothes, books, photos, to fill those cupboards and shelves. But not just any old things that you will end up chucking during a clear-out in another couple of years. Things that you love. Clothes that look good on you and reflect the person you are. Photo frames you can fill with pictures of happy memories. Books that you love or you are sure you will love or will help or guide you in some way. Getting rid of the clutter and replacing it with neat, pretty things instantly makes us happier. And you don't have to spend loads either. Be savvy with your shopping. There are plenty of shops, online and in real life, that do amazing things for very little.
4. Do the spring cleaning.
The basics. The hoovering, the polishing, oh all the mundane tasks we detest. We put it off because we aren't housewives living in the 50's for gods sake! Plus, it's effort. But cleaning is therapeutic. I'm not Monica Gellar but I really do feel so much better when I've had a good clean. I feel like I finally have the headspace to think. This isn't just a female thing. Men and women both find cleaning therapeutic and helpful.
5. Do a bit of exercise.
NO I hear you cry!! If you hate exercise, why the hell would doing it make you happy? But just hear me out. You may love exercise. You may live for your spinning classes or your morning swim, or you may be like me: constantly putting it off, hating doing it, hating the after-effects of aching, and every time you think about it it conjures up awful memories of playing rounders during school and always, always, being on field. And never catching the ball.
It's all about finding something we like doing, that works for us. For example I love doing pilates. During my workout, it can hurt. The next day, oh it really hurts. But just after I've done the workout, I feel exhilarated. I feel no longer like a fat slob. I feel energised. Whether you enjoy a long jog or prefer the relaxation of yoga, find something you enjoy and you'll reap the rewards. Not just with your body, but with your mind.
6. Call a friend.
Everyone has that one friend that never fails to put a smile on their face. I can think of two or three. One who I can talk to about anything and I can laugh until I cry with. Call them. Thats right. Not a text or a Facebook message or a cheeky tweet. An actual phone call. Whether the last time you saw them was a year ago or yesterday, and whether the phone call lasts an hour or a few minutes, it will brighten up both of your days.
7. Do something for someone less fortunate than yourself.
Many people don't do this, because they're oh so busy with they're oh so hectic lives. Or so they think. You could do some good volunteering work for a few hours and make other people so happy, as well as yourself, for a cause you believe in. But it doesn't matter if you can't find the time because doing stuff for people less fortunate is about the little things. Whether you go and help out at a charity or whether you simply donate to a charity, give a homeless man some food, or (bringing out the old cliché here) help an old lady across the road, it will make you glow inside with good karma. Plus, they will really truly appreciate it. It also makes us appreciate what we have, whether its our mobility or a roof over our heads. It is healthy from time to time to remember there are less fortunate people. it makes us appreciate what we have and not take anything for granted. (By the way, the photo below is of a man giving his shoes to a homeless girl in Rio, don't you think it's amazing? I stole it from 21 Pictures That Will Restore Your Faith In Humanity. I recommend checking out the link).
8. Paint your nails a pretty colour.
I hate it when I don't have any nail varnish on, which is most of the time as I can't wear the stuff at work, so when I put it on, it just makes me feel fab. Paint your nails, put glitter on them, maybe be arty and decorate them with nail pens and nail stickers which are all the rage at the moment. You don't need to spend a fortune for a little manicure of your own. (I say all this, but I'm crap at painting my own nails!!)
9. Strut around in your favourite heels.
Next time your home alone and bored, or doing some boring task, put on your favourite, highest heels, and just wear them. Wear them while you write up an essay, do the cooking, or clean up. It'll make you feel fabulous and all woman, darling.
10. Put on your favourite lipstick.
Trust me on this. Just trust me. Even if you aren't much of a make-up fan, or a lipstick fan. Putting on a little bit of lipstick instantly makes me feel more glamourous, powerful, and on top of my game. I really don't know what it is. It's not the same feeling i get with the rest of my make-up routine. I work in a place where I need to wear minimal make-up, so before work, I will put on a smidgen of a very natural, coral coloured lipstick, and blend it in. The effect LOOKS natural, like i'm just wearing a bit of balm, but it makes me FEEL good. I feel like I've gone from a groggy worker stuck under my uniform to someone who can do my job and do it well.
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