Many people associate spring with a fresh start, as the warmer weather and longer days brighten our mood and give us the chance to get more done.

With that in mind, here are 10 ways to improve your home, health and quality of life over the next couple of months.

1. Do a spring clean of your home

There are many benefits from conducting a comprehensive clean of your home – whether you do it yourself or hire cleaners – that go beyond having a cleaner living environment.

Your home will become healthier, because it will have less dust and mould. And it will become more liveable, because you’ll free up space and arrange your possessions in a more orderly way.

That, in turn, will make you feel mentally ‘lighter’, which will reduce stress and anxiety.

2. Check home safety

This is also a good time to make your home safer, potentially as part of a spring clean. That could involve:

  • Replacing the batteries in your smoke alarms
  • Replacing the bulbs in your outdoor lights
  • Removing potential safety and fire hazards
  • Cleaning out gutters
  • Testing locks
  • Installing new security features

3. Prepare for the warmer months

With the weather about to get a lot hotter, spring is the perfect time to have your air conditioning and ceiling fans inspected.

You could also check the seals on your windows and doors – during summer, you’ll want to keep the cool air in and the hot air out.

If you like to spend time outdoors during the summer, check that your outdoor furniture and accessories are in order.

4. Declutter your wardrobe

Most of us have more clothes than we need. Go through your wardrobe and make a pile of all the clothing, footwear and accessories you haven’t worn in at least 12 months – and ask yourself if you’re likely to wear them in the future. If the answer is no, give them to a friend or donate them to charity.

5. Do more outdoor exercise

With the weather getting warmer and days getting longer, you have more opportunities to walk, run, swim, cycle and play tennis. Rope in some friends and you can socialise at the same time.

6. Try a new outdoor hobby

You can also try new outdoor hobbies, such as gardening, fishing, bird watching, photography and beach yoga.

7. Embrace healthy eating

During winter, a lot of us get into the habit of spending more time at home and snacking on bad foods while we’re at it.

Spring provides an opportunity to not only spend more time outdoors, but also eat more nutritious food when we are at home.

Right now, fruits like bananas, strawberries, pineapples, cherries and watermelon are in season, as are vegetables like asparagus, broccoli, mushrooms, cauliflower and cabbage.

8. Enjoy a getaway

The final term of the school year runs from 30 September to 13 December. If you don’t have babysitting responsibilities, you could go somewhere for a week or two during this time. Options include taking a leisurely roadtrip, flying to one of our capital cities or popping overseas to New Zealand.

9. Volunteer in the community

Volunteering has many benefits – you can give back to the community, make new friends and get more exercise.

There are a large and diverse number of volunteering opportunities available, from working at events and visiting aged care facilities to becoming a youth mentor and participating in community gardens.  Please contact us if you would like some suggestions as we have a few community groups always looking for volunteers.

10. Get out and about

There are so many fun activities and experiences in the Gold Coast region at this time of year. Examples include: