#JunkFreeInJune – 15 ways to remove the junk from your life – Part 2

Have you been joining me in the #JunkFreeInJune challenge? I hope you have enjoyed the challenge and have started to make some positive changes in your life. One of the ideas that has been very popular is Unsubscribing from Emails and Subscriptions that no longer have value.

I kicked off the #JunkFreeInJune challenge, listing ways you can remove the ‘junk’ from your life for the first 15 days of June. Did you try any? I would love to hear what ideas resonated with you.

As promised, I am now following up with 15 more days to complete the month. By June 30 it would be a good exercise to review your month and tick off exactly what areas of your life you have addressed in terms of removing the ‘junk’ and taking back control of your life. It is such a great feeling isn’t it? Being in control!

#JunkFreeInJune – 15 ways to remove the junk from your life – Part 2

If you would like a copy you can download the calendar HERE and keep it handy for inspiration and motivation to clear the clutter!

Remember #JunkFreeInJune is all about Taking Back Control of your life. It is about removing what is holding you back and embracing new habits to create the life you want.

Take control of:

16. Your Health– Our health and well being is paramount but we can get so caught up in life that we can take our health for granted. Knowing our Family Medical history, incorporating regular screenings and annual check ups is important. You may be living a healthy lifestyle and not realise that there is a problem (because of genetics mainly) that you aren’t aware of until it is too late or you receive a scare. Make the comittment to schedule your regular medical appointments this week.

17. Your habits – the #JunkFreeInJune challenge is the perfect time to address those bad habits that have crept into our lives. Time to review your life and see what unhealthy habits need to be replaced. These include the obvious ones like improving what you eat, drinking more water, getting enough sleep and exercising. However there are other habits that can be inhibiting our growth as a person. My friend Christie from So What? Now What? recently wrote a post about The power of words and Mindful Speech she wrote about the challenge to:

Go one full day without speaking about anyone who isn’t present except as necessary to perform your job or other responsibilities. If you slip up, make note of it and continue with the challenge.

Christie Hawkes, So What? Now What?

18. Your body – You only have one body to last a life time. It isn’t like a car that we can trade in for a newer version. Treating your body with respect and nurturing it inside as well as outside is important. Start on the inside by taking a day to detox and cleanse and then aim to make some changes for healthier eating. Move more and be active – that is what our body is designed to do and take time to rest and restore.

19. Your Mental Health – If life is overwhelming to the point where you just aren’t coping you need to seek professional help. In Australia, Lifeline 13 11 14 provides Crisis Support so don’t be afraid or embarrassed to reach out if you need help. For most of us though, we just need to remember that we can’t keep up a hectic pace constantly. We need to take time to be mindful and do things to clear our minds of the day to day clutter. Meditation or just going for a walk can help clear our minds.

20. Your diet – no I don’t mean restricting what you eat to lettuce leaves. I’m talking about eating less processed foods, more whole foods and ensuring our bodies get enough nutrients to sustain a healthy lifestyle. Why not try a Meatless Monday recipe each week? Include more colourful vegetables and ‘eat a rainbow’. Remove the ‘junk’ from your diet and you will have more energy and certainly be healthier. Nancy Dobbins wrote a guest post earlier in the month describing how she and her husband Transformed their Eating Habits.

21. Your Spiritual Side – Whether you follow a structured religion or not, we all have a spiritual side which should be nurtured. Practising gratitude and being thankful for what we have in our life brings calm, peace and joy. Some people use a journal to record their gratitude, others meditate, others pray. Whatever is your choice make gratitude a part of your day.

22. Your Social Life – Is your diary booked out for the next few months with social activities? Social connection is important for a healthy lifestyle but sometimes over-comitting to activities and catch ups can be detrimental. We can become overwhelmed and burnt out. Review your diary and adjust your social life to be a pleasure rather than becoming a chore.

23. Your Environment – Whether you believe in Climate Change or Not, we need to care for the environment in which we live not just for us but for future generations. What can you do to stop adding ‘junk’ to the environment?

24. Your friendships – We all liked to be liked, don’t we? However, sometimes we hang on to friendships that aren’t in our best interests. I’ve written before about the types of friendships that we have and the need to have the courage to walk away from those that are not supportive or are a toxic influence in our life. One true, supportive and loving friend is worth more than many shallow friends who want to pull you down.

25. Your fitness– being fit means having the best body you can for the life you lead. No, you don’t have to be a marathon runner or body builder. BUT you do need to maintain general fitness and strength if you want to live an active and healthy lifestyle. I keep fit and active because I want to keep up with my grandchildren, travel and also just cope with daily independent living as I age. The recommended amount of exercise is 150 minutes per week. DOING SOME ACTIVITY THAT YOU LOVE is the key that will keep your fitness at the desired level for your body and your mind.

26. Your Eating – I’ve talked about removing processed foods from you diet and preparing healthy snacks to keep on hand. Your eating is much more than this. The type of food, how and when we eat can be determined by our life experiences. Certain triggers can set off coping mechanisms and we turn to food for comfort or out of boredom. Finding the underlying cause of ‘why’ you turn to food through emotional eating is important for maintaining healthy weight and lifestyle.

27. Your alcohol– There is nothing wrong with drinking alcohol as long as it is in moderation. When it becomes a habit that you just ‘need’ daily then you need to review. My husband has now been alcohol free since March 2018 after realising that alcohol was affecting his lifestyle and health. I’ve joined him on this journey and a very proud of his achievement. You don’t have to remove alcohol completely but the health benefits of incorporating ‘AFD’s’ (alcohol free days) into your week are worth it.

28. Your possessions – Do you really need all of your possessions? What would happen if you lost them tomorrow? Society has developed a ‘throw away’ and ‘must have’ mentality where many don’t appreciate the value of their possessions. Recently we have moved and decluttered our own home plus my MIL’s home. It was a cathartic experience and made me realise I hadn’t used many items. Are there items in your life cluttering your home and space that you just don’t need or use?

29. Your time – My friend, Debbie Harris from Deb’s World has chosen ‘time’ as her Word of the Year. She wrote back in January about how to get more time back into our lives. Do you know you are control of how you spend your time? We all have a choice don’t we? I’m just as guilty as others of not using my time wisely and that includes making time to do nothing and not feel guilty about it. Time is precious so are you wasting your time in some areas of your life? Are you making the most of your time? Remember time and life has an end point so make sure you are making the most of it.

30. Take control of your self care – So much is written on this subject but

‘you can’t pour from an empty cup’ can you?

We all deserve to live the best life we can in happiness and that means making time to put the ‘DO NOT DISTURB’ sign out and indulging in some time for yourself. Being mindful to take care of yourself and learning to say NO when you feel pulled in all directions, not only shows you and others that you respect your body, mind and spirit but it shows that you LOVE and APPRECIATE yourself.

You deserve to look after yourself and find contentment and joy in your life because you are so worth it.

Well there it is, the second 15 ways we can take control of our lives and become #JunkFreeInJune. I have now completed the month with 30 ideas for you to clear the clutter from you life.

Are there any areas on the list that you can work on immediately? I know I can.