5 Ways To Get Back To The Basics And Detox Your Life

A common association with the word “detox” is that gut-wrenching combination of hot water and cayenne pepper. That, or (insert A-list celebrity name here)’s semi-annual "vacay."

However, I’m not interested in talking about detox the drink or detox the drug dependency. What I seek to speak about is detoxing as a way of life.

We’ve made it through another year of holidays, chock full of happy memories and heavy waistlines. It’s a new year, though, which means it’s time for new beginnings. Check out these few tips about how to best hit the reset button of your life and optimize your 2014:

1. Detox Your Home

Think of this as pre-spring spring-cleaning. Your home – everything from your wardrobe to your tea towels to your appliances – is a reflection of you. My guess is that your personality isn’t cluttered and covered in cobwebs... is it?

During Christmas, you probably received your fair share of unwanted stocking stuffers — all the little chachkies that ultimately live in your junk drawer forever. But consider that all of the little things you aren’t using could be treasures to someone else. So:

-Turn that junk drawer upside down... into the garbage bin.

-Take your old garments to your nearest thrift store.

-If you’re a multitasker and who is often working on simultaneous projects, find a place for working on your DIY’s.

2. Detox Your Body

So, you stuffed your face with turkey and shortbread. (It’s okay, we all did.) If you find yourself unusually tired, sluggish and irritable, maybe it’s time to think about a physical detox.

-Work off those Christmas pounds by pounding some pavement. Right now, gyms are crawling with New Years “resolutionaries,” but trust me: if you can stick out January, you’ll have the privilege of watching the gym population thin from the comfort of your elliptical machine.

-Rather than a cayenne pepper detox, consider going herbal. (No, not that kind of herbal.) Herbal cleanses like the Wild Rose Detox rid your body of nasty toxins while still allowing – and encouraging! – you to eat.

-Lay your pretty head down for the eight hours of sleep you want, need and deserve each night. This will kick your immune system into high gear and you’ll wake up with energy you never knew you had.

3. Detox Your Mind

Some of the best advice I’ve ever received was to not let someone or something occupy a rent-free room ‘upstairs.' We all have unwelcome stressors in our lives, so why feed and coddle them?

Much like your body, you feel thinner and cleaner when you detox your thoughts. However, make sure you forgive yourself during the process. You’re only human – it’s okay to stumble.

-Take stock of irrational, unhealthy thought patterns and make a conscious effort to correct them. Body image issues run rampant this time of year, but don’t beat yourself down because you’re tipping the scale just a bit heavier than you were a month ago. You’re the most beautiful when you believe it.

-Before retiring each night, think of something positive that happened during your day. This is a simple and effective way to find those silver linings.

-Slim down on the time you spend on social media. Nobody’s business matters more than your own.

4. Detox Your Social Circle

It’s all about quality, not quantity. Detoxifying involves letting out the bad so you can let in the good — this idea lends itself to the people with whom you surround yourself.

-You don’t need “frenemies.” Take your indifference to the next level and eliminate them entirely. Trust me, you won’t miss them.

-Purge your Facebook friend list. Would you really invite 1,200 people to your wedding or send each a personalized holiday card? Use questions like this to measure who is worthy of your valuable time and attention.

-Family are the friends you don’t get to choose, so invest time and love into the people with whom you share DNA. They’re the ones who will stand by your side when others walk away.

5. Detox Your Finances

Unfortunately, there’s an element of truth to the notion that money makes the world go round. Take a long, hard look at your credit card statement and the way you spend your cash.

We work hard for our paychecks, and while it’s perfectly acceptable to treat ourselves every now and then, does daily Starbucks really give life more meaning? Doubtful. When you live simply, you will find more time (and funding) to enjoy the finer things in life.

-Set a “splurge” for 2014. A hot holiday vacation, a home, those crazy expensive shoes you’ve been drooling over for years – any single splurge to motivate you away from frivolous, impulsive spending.

-Set a budget and stick to it. Free apps like Mint will take the guesswork out of your spend trends and will let you know how well you’re sticking to your plan.

-Leave your plastic at home. Sometimes the feeling you glean from window-shopping is just as satisfying as the actual purchase itself. Buyer’s remorse, be gone!

By adopting even just a few of these tips into your daily life, you’ll be happier, healthier and wondering why you didn’t do this in 2013.

Top Photo Courtesy: Tumblr