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Spring always feels like such a time of renewal and awakening. People often use it as a reason to “spring clean” their homes—to tidy up and make things feel fresh and new. Reorganizing all your closets, cupboards, and drawers can help you feel re-energized, but doing acleanupof your mind and brain can really help you feel like you are starting the season with a clean slate.
7 Ways Spring Cleaning Is Good for Your Mental Health
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Regulate Your Sleep Schedule
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A good night’s sleep can certainly leave you feeling refreshed, but getting regular sleep is actually critical to your brain’s health. Sleep has been shown toimprove memory, and one study even found that sleeping after you learn something new results in actual changes in the brain and better retention. Some other important benefits of sleep?
Research has shown that sleep-deprived people handle stress less effectively and that chronic lack of sleep might even contribute to obesity. One study even found that sleep deprivation might even result in serious and lasting brain damage, killing off cells in important regions of the brain.
7 Breathing Exercises for Better Sleep
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Exercise obviously has awide range of benefits, but research is increasingly demonstrating that being physically fit is vital to your brain’s current and future health.
One study found that being fit early in life at age 25 is linked to better cognitive abilities during middle age.Another study revealed that people who were in poor physical shape in middle age experienced a greater loss of brain volume in older age than did those who were very fit at age 40.
Studies have also demonstrated that exercise can indeed make people smarter.Those who exercise do better on mental tests, have better memories and are better at paying attention.
Exercise Options for Busy People
3Eat Foods Friendly to the BrainEnrique Díaz / 7cero / Getty ImagesA nutrient-dense diet can also help contribute to a healthy mind. Certain nutritional deficiencies can lead to mental confusion and memory problems, such as vitamin B-12 deficiency.Fatty acids are also essential for proper brain function since they help protect the brain and aid in oxygenation. Fish, nuts, and seeds are good sources of these fatty acids.7 Feel-Good Foods to Lift Your Mood
3
Eat Foods Friendly to the BrainEnrique Díaz / 7cero / Getty ImagesA nutrient-dense diet can also help contribute to a healthy mind. Certain nutritional deficiencies can lead to mental confusion and memory problems, such as vitamin B-12 deficiency.Fatty acids are also essential for proper brain function since they help protect the brain and aid in oxygenation. Fish, nuts, and seeds are good sources of these fatty acids.7 Feel-Good Foods to Lift Your Mood
Eat Foods Friendly to the Brain
Enrique Díaz / 7cero / Getty Images
A nutrient-dense diet can also help contribute to a healthy mind. Certain nutritional deficiencies can lead to mental confusion and memory problems, such as vitamin B-12 deficiency.
Fatty acids are also essential for proper brain function since they help protect the brain and aid in oxygenation. Fish, nuts, and seeds are good sources of these fatty acids.
7 Feel-Good Foods to Lift Your Mood
4Let Your Mind WanderWestend61 / Getty ImagesWhile people sometimes make the mistake of thinking meditation is just for relaxation, there has been plenty of research to demonstrate the powerful impact that meditating can have on the mind and body.Studies have found a huge range of benefits including lowering stress, improving memory, better sleep, and better attention. One study found that the brain is able to process certain types of information better during meditation and that letting your mind wander during meditation may be one of the best ways to reduce stress and increase concentration.If you want to reap some of these many advantages, consider becoming one of the more than 45 million people in the United States who practice meditation.Mindfulness meditationis one of the most effective types of mediation.
4
Let Your Mind WanderWestend61 / Getty ImagesWhile people sometimes make the mistake of thinking meditation is just for relaxation, there has been plenty of research to demonstrate the powerful impact that meditating can have on the mind and body.Studies have found a huge range of benefits including lowering stress, improving memory, better sleep, and better attention. One study found that the brain is able to process certain types of information better during meditation and that letting your mind wander during meditation may be one of the best ways to reduce stress and increase concentration.If you want to reap some of these many advantages, consider becoming one of the more than 45 million people in the United States who practice meditation.Mindfulness meditationis one of the most effective types of mediation.
Let Your Mind Wander
Westend61 / Getty Images
While people sometimes make the mistake of thinking meditation is just for relaxation, there has been plenty of research to demonstrate the powerful impact that meditating can have on the mind and body.
Studies have found a huge range of benefits including lowering stress, improving memory, better sleep, and better attention. One study found that the brain is able to process certain types of information better during meditation and that letting your mind wander during meditation may be one of the best ways to reduce stress and increase concentration.
If you want to reap some of these many advantages, consider becoming one of the more than 45 million people in the United States who practice meditation.Mindfulness meditationis one of the most effective types of mediation.
5
Develop a Stress Relief Plan
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Stress can wreak havoc on both your mind and body.It can impede your memory, suppress your immune system, and make it difficult to get a good night’s sleep. Fortunately, there are things that you can do to help keep your stress levels in check and better manage the daily stresses you have to deal with.
These are just a few things you can do to help keep your brain in tip-top shape.
Peace of Mind: How to Find and Keep It
11 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mazza S, Gerbier E, Gustin MP, et al.Relearn Faster and Retain Longer.Psychol Sci. 2016;27(10):1321-1330. doi:10.1177/0956797616659930Lucassen EA, Zhao X, Rother KI, et al.Evening chronotype is associated with changes in eating behavior, more sleep apnea, and increased stress hormones in short sleeping obese individuals.PLoS ONE. 2013;8(3):e56519. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0056519Zhao Z, Zhao X, Veasey SC.Neural Consequences of Chronic Short Sleep: Reversible or Lasting?.Front Neurol. 2017;8:235. doi:10.3389/fneur.2017.00235Zhu N, Jacobs DR, Schreiner PJ, et al.Cardiorespiratory fitness and cognitive function in middle age: the CARDIA study.Neurology. 2014;82(15):1339-46. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000000310Spartano NL, Himali JJ, Beiser AS, et al.Midlife exercise blood pressure, heart rate, and fitness relate to brain volume 2 decades later.Neurology. 2016;86(14):1313-1319. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000002415Ten brinke LF, Bolandzadeh N, Nagamatsu LS, et al.Aerobic exercise increases hippocampal volume in older women with probable mild cognitive impairment: a 6-month randomised controlled trial.Br J Sports Med. 2015;49(4):248-54. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2013-093184Skerrett P.Vitamin B12 deficiency can be sneaky, harmful. Harvard Medical School. January 2013.Sharma H.Meditation: Process and effects.Ayu. 2015;36(3):233-7. doi:10.4103/0974-8520.182756Vago DR, Zeidan F.The brain on silent: mind wandering, mindful awareness, and states of mental tranquility.Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2016;1373(1):96-113. doi:10.1111/nyas.13171Use of Yoga and Meditation Becoming More Popular in U.S.. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. November 2018.5 Things You Should Know About Stress. National Institutes of Health.
11 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mazza S, Gerbier E, Gustin MP, et al.Relearn Faster and Retain Longer.Psychol Sci. 2016;27(10):1321-1330. doi:10.1177/0956797616659930Lucassen EA, Zhao X, Rother KI, et al.Evening chronotype is associated with changes in eating behavior, more sleep apnea, and increased stress hormones in short sleeping obese individuals.PLoS ONE. 2013;8(3):e56519. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0056519Zhao Z, Zhao X, Veasey SC.Neural Consequences of Chronic Short Sleep: Reversible or Lasting?.Front Neurol. 2017;8:235. doi:10.3389/fneur.2017.00235Zhu N, Jacobs DR, Schreiner PJ, et al.Cardiorespiratory fitness and cognitive function in middle age: the CARDIA study.Neurology. 2014;82(15):1339-46. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000000310Spartano NL, Himali JJ, Beiser AS, et al.Midlife exercise blood pressure, heart rate, and fitness relate to brain volume 2 decades later.Neurology. 2016;86(14):1313-1319. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000002415Ten brinke LF, Bolandzadeh N, Nagamatsu LS, et al.Aerobic exercise increases hippocampal volume in older women with probable mild cognitive impairment: a 6-month randomised controlled trial.Br J Sports Med. 2015;49(4):248-54. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2013-093184Skerrett P.Vitamin B12 deficiency can be sneaky, harmful. Harvard Medical School. January 2013.Sharma H.Meditation: Process and effects.Ayu. 2015;36(3):233-7. doi:10.4103/0974-8520.182756Vago DR, Zeidan F.The brain on silent: mind wandering, mindful awareness, and states of mental tranquility.Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2016;1373(1):96-113. doi:10.1111/nyas.13171Use of Yoga and Meditation Becoming More Popular in U.S.. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. November 2018.5 Things You Should Know About Stress. National Institutes of Health.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Mazza S, Gerbier E, Gustin MP, et al.Relearn Faster and Retain Longer.Psychol Sci. 2016;27(10):1321-1330. doi:10.1177/0956797616659930Lucassen EA, Zhao X, Rother KI, et al.Evening chronotype is associated with changes in eating behavior, more sleep apnea, and increased stress hormones in short sleeping obese individuals.PLoS ONE. 2013;8(3):e56519. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0056519Zhao Z, Zhao X, Veasey SC.Neural Consequences of Chronic Short Sleep: Reversible or Lasting?.Front Neurol. 2017;8:235. doi:10.3389/fneur.2017.00235Zhu N, Jacobs DR, Schreiner PJ, et al.Cardiorespiratory fitness and cognitive function in middle age: the CARDIA study.Neurology. 2014;82(15):1339-46. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000000310Spartano NL, Himali JJ, Beiser AS, et al.Midlife exercise blood pressure, heart rate, and fitness relate to brain volume 2 decades later.Neurology. 2016;86(14):1313-1319. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000002415Ten brinke LF, Bolandzadeh N, Nagamatsu LS, et al.Aerobic exercise increases hippocampal volume in older women with probable mild cognitive impairment: a 6-month randomised controlled trial.Br J Sports Med. 2015;49(4):248-54. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2013-093184Skerrett P.Vitamin B12 deficiency can be sneaky, harmful. Harvard Medical School. January 2013.Sharma H.Meditation: Process and effects.Ayu. 2015;36(3):233-7. doi:10.4103/0974-8520.182756Vago DR, Zeidan F.The brain on silent: mind wandering, mindful awareness, and states of mental tranquility.Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2016;1373(1):96-113. doi:10.1111/nyas.13171Use of Yoga and Meditation Becoming More Popular in U.S.. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. November 2018.5 Things You Should Know About Stress. National Institutes of Health.
Mazza S, Gerbier E, Gustin MP, et al.Relearn Faster and Retain Longer.Psychol Sci. 2016;27(10):1321-1330. doi:10.1177/0956797616659930
Lucassen EA, Zhao X, Rother KI, et al.Evening chronotype is associated with changes in eating behavior, more sleep apnea, and increased stress hormones in short sleeping obese individuals.PLoS ONE. 2013;8(3):e56519. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0056519
Zhao Z, Zhao X, Veasey SC.Neural Consequences of Chronic Short Sleep: Reversible or Lasting?.Front Neurol. 2017;8:235. doi:10.3389/fneur.2017.00235
Zhu N, Jacobs DR, Schreiner PJ, et al.Cardiorespiratory fitness and cognitive function in middle age: the CARDIA study.Neurology. 2014;82(15):1339-46. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000000310
Spartano NL, Himali JJ, Beiser AS, et al.Midlife exercise blood pressure, heart rate, and fitness relate to brain volume 2 decades later.Neurology. 2016;86(14):1313-1319. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000002415
Ten brinke LF, Bolandzadeh N, Nagamatsu LS, et al.Aerobic exercise increases hippocampal volume in older women with probable mild cognitive impairment: a 6-month randomised controlled trial.Br J Sports Med. 2015;49(4):248-54. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2013-093184
Skerrett P.Vitamin B12 deficiency can be sneaky, harmful. Harvard Medical School. January 2013.
Sharma H.Meditation: Process and effects.Ayu. 2015;36(3):233-7. doi:10.4103/0974-8520.182756
Vago DR, Zeidan F.The brain on silent: mind wandering, mindful awareness, and states of mental tranquility.Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2016;1373(1):96-113. doi:10.1111/nyas.13171
Use of Yoga and Meditation Becoming More Popular in U.S.. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. November 2018.
5 Things You Should Know About Stress. National Institutes of Health.
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