Worn out.
Sometimes life can make us feel exhausted, overworked, tired, drained. Winter can do it to me. Between the cold, snow, sick kids, a busy schedule, and life about the end of February I am tapped out. Ready for a change.
When you finally get to that stage of worn out there are 2 directions you can go: depression or renewal. Luckily the temperatures are warming up, sickness is going away, and I’ve eliminated part of the schedule for breathing room. I knew it was time to come to that great intersection of life where I can renew and refresh to create more margin in my life.
If you have felt the same way or are just happy it’s spring and are looking for some fun ways to refresh and renew, here are 10 ways you can refresh and renew at home!
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1. Go off the technology grid.
I am a simple girl who likes simple solutions. If you have been feeling rushed, overwhelmed, or discontent take a vacation from technology.
Oh, I know it can be hard to avoid Facebook, email, and all the other amazing things on the web! We are all addicted to them. I have found for myself that by avoiding those things for even just a day (or an afternoon if you are really unsure about it) I felt refreshed.
An easy way to try this yourself is to do it on a Sunday. Tell the family no phones, iPods, internet, or electronics. I’m sure you’ll get some groans but I also bet if you do something fun as a family or get together with some friends, you won’t regret it!
2. Eat Fresh Foods.
A favorite of at my house…snack on frozen grapes! My family loves the crunch and it’s a fun way to change up fruit! You can also eat fresh fruits and veggies that are in season. It won’t be long until orchards and farms are open where you can pick your own.
3. Drink less sugary drinks.
This is one I struggle with a lot. Instead of soda or juice, we’ve been drinking water with fruit. I’ve also been drinking iced tea instead of soda. If you aren’t a fan of iced tea have you tried a cup of hot tea in the morning or peppermint, black, or green tea (my daughter’s favorite)? Your body will thank you!
4. Hello sunshine!
My favorite part of spring is the weather! I love the warmer temperatures, an occasional spring rain shower (I love the smell of rain), and longer days of sunshine.
After a cold winter, I can’t wait for spring air and open windows (even though my allergies do not respond well)! While you are opening windows, open up your curtains. Let the sunshine in! It will do wonders for your mood!
5. Clean something.
There’s a reason it’s called spring cleaning. If you need help getting motivated last year I did a 31 Days of Organizing & Decluttering Your Home Challenge. Flylady and Clean Mama also is a great way to get yourself organized when it comes to cleaning!
6. Add some color.
Spring is a great time for experimenting with vibrant colors. Whether it’s paint or some new wallpaper, the possibilities are endless.
7. Make it comfortable.
I love my big, comfy warm winter comforter, when it’s cold and nasty.
However, once the temperature warms up, it’s just too hot. Spring is a great time to try a lighter comforter or pretty quilt.
8. Add texture
I love texture. The walls in my dining room are painted burlap (I can’t take credit for it, it was there when I moved here). Texture can really give a room a different feel and look. Just a few simple ways to add some texture are having a wire basket of fruit on your table (try peaches they smell great), either buy new throw pillows or sew some new covers, or add a plant!
9. Try a spring scent!
Every home has its own smell. If you are a fan of diffusers, candles, Scentsy products,
10. Add something unique
I love when I go to my friends’ homes and they have décor that is uniquely them. You don’t always have to spend a lot to add a little uniqueness to your home. This pillow caught my eye because I know my daughter, Nora would absolutely love it. She loves giraffes and pink. It was marked down to less than $7 (shipping included) when I found it on Amazon and thought it would look cute on a black bench.
How do you refresh and renew at home?
This post is part of the Renew and Refresh series. You can see the rest of the posts in this series here.
Have you enjoyed what you read here today? Do you have friends or other women you know that could benefit from this resource? If so, please do me a favor! I have included the links below to share with other intentional women! They’ll be glad you did!
Love these suggestions! I just got home from an all-day field trip on the heels of a busy spring break. I was feeling pretty worn out and stressed about my giant list of to-do’s, but reading your ideas brightened my spirits and reminded me to be sure and schedule in time to renew and refresh. I’m opening up the blinds and pouring myself a big glass of water right now! 🙂 Thanks, friend!
Excellent tips! I have found that unplugging, as hard as it is to do, or even just avoiding Facebook can make a big difference for me. We were away for 6 weeks at the beginning of the year and while I had internet access, the place we were had Facebook blocked. At first I was really frustrated (and it is really hard to keep up my blog’s Facebook page if I can’t get on!), but you know what? It ended up being a really good thing. I discovered how much time I was wasting on Facebook and also realized how discontent it often made me. You know, you start seeing how this person went on an amazing vacation, how this friend had a totally amazing experience where God healed her of past hurts, how that person’s children are just always happy….not that any of those things are bad, but it was just so easy for me to see them and become dissatisfied with the good, wonderful life that I actually have. So, since we’ve been back, I have continued to really limit my Facebook time and it has been such a good thing.
Your comment about frozen grapes made me realize that we really need to try that! I keep hearing people talk about how good and refreshing it is, but never think to do it when we have grapes! 🙂
Such a great list! Speaking of #1…I just deleted Twitter and a few more apps off my phone last night. We will see how that goes! No, I am not addicted. I like your Sunday idea. I should try a technology free day.
And yes, sunshine & fresh air is so refreshing. Hello Spring!!
I really liked all your tips. Leaving off technology is a very hard thing to do, but the suggestion for doing so on Sunday is a great one! I’ve been following a declutter challenge myself this past couple weeks and it is feeling good to get some “spring cleaning” done.