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For many people, spring is a time of new beginnings and fresh starts.

For me, it's a time to indulge in some well overdue self-care and finally start all those New Year's resolution that were dead and buried by January 10th – (seriously though, how can anyone be expected to give up chocolate when it's so bloody miserable outside?)

But now that the weather is getting a little better, all excuses have gone out the window. 

Here's seven simple ways to spring clean your mind and body, starting right now! 

1. Shake up your routine

Sleep, eat, work, repeat. It's easy to get stuck in a rut when the hustle and bustle of working life takes over. Gone are the days when mid-week drinks with the girls were pretty much an essential part of your routine, because your after work ritual now consists mainly of napping and complaining about how you're too tired to cook. 

Sound familiar? It could be time to switch things up a bit. 

Even the smallest changes to your routine can make a huge difference to your overall mood, so start small and go from there. 

It could be anything from getting up a little earlier to enjoy breakfast before work, to making more time to socialise at the weekends – make it work for your lifestyle.

2. Donate any clothes you haven't worn in six months

Clear space, clear mind – isn't that what they say? 

Lay out all your clothes on your bed and divide them into two piles – the pieces you've worn in the last six months and the ones you haven't. 

Sure, some things might be difficult to part with, but there's definitely someone out there that will appreciate that Zara SS16 skirt more than you do. 

Plus, it's an excuse to go shopping – win, win! 

3. Make sleep a priority

This one is a bit of a no-brainer, but an essential tip none the less. 

A recent study found that over half a million Irish adults feel they're not getting sleep at night, leaving them at greater risk of developing health and mental wellbeing issues. 

Give the Netflix a rest and go to bed a little earlier on the weekdays. Not only will you feel more energised and better prepared for the day ahead, but you'll also be doing yourself a favour in the long run. 

4. Reevaluate your career goals 

There's no  job in the world that is worth jeopardising your happiness for – simple.

Stop complaining about how much you hate your job and get out there and make things happen. 

Take an evening course, spruce up your CV, and take a look at what options are available to you. 

Taking a new path is always scary, but it could be the best decision you'll ever make. 

5. Ditch the negative body image 

Stop focussing on changing your body, and start focussing on changing your body image.

Forget about the number on the scales and the label on your jeans and embrace your gorgeous bod in all its glory. 

Start by putting an end to any self-deprecating thoughts – "my arms are too flabby," "my stomach isn't flat enough" etc. – and replace them with positive thinking.

 "Damn! My legs look sexy AF right now."

Much better, right? 

6. Clean out your inbox 

Feel a little overwhelmed every time you open your inbox? It might be time to conduct a little digital purge. 

Not only will unsubscribing from all those pesky email alerts make it easier for you to see which mails are actually important, but it will also do wonders for you state of mind. 

And once you've waded through the mountains of mail, there's one simple trick that can help prevent this type of build up happening in the future – if it's not important. read it and delete it. 

Simples! 

7. Drink more water dammit! 

Let's face it, most of us are guilty of not drinking enough water. We either don’t like the taste, can’t be bothered or just forget to keep topping up the water bottle

But drinking water is so important for your health. and it’s recommended we drink around eight glasses a day. 

Not only does water help maintain hydration levels, it also helps to energise muscles and keeps our skin glowing from the inside out.

 

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Do you know what your first memory is?

I know mine was on my parents wedding day – I'm being lifted off a white bench outside by someone  and I can see my little white sandals on my feet as I look down at them. That's it. A three-second lightning-quick snapshot. I was a few weeks away from my second birthday.

I can still see my shoes as I get picked up off the bench – but did it ever actually happen?

A study in the journal Psychological Science says that more than likely it's a fabrication. Spooky, right? 

Researchers from the UK asked more than 6,600 people about their first childhood memory.

According to Science Alert, they found that 2,500 of participants – almost 40 percent – said that they had formed memories before the age of two-years-old. More than 890 of those people said that their their first memory takes place before they turned one.

The scientists now say though that those memories are completely imagined…they're not real memories.

So why are we convinced that they are? 

The study explained that our brains seem to be simply incapable of retaining information from before the age of three.

However, the thing is, the scientists found that people's memories were age-appropriate. 

This means that they're not memories that got muddled in time because they mention prams, cribs or wanting to communicate before knowing how to talk.

Now this is the interesting bit.

The research suggests that these recollections are actually being pieced together from photographs people have seen and stories they may have been told etc. 

"We suggest that what a rememberer has in mind when recalling fictional improbably early memories is an episodic-memory-like mental representation consisting of remembered fragments of early experience and some facts or knowledge about their own infancy/childhood," explained psychologist Shazia Akhtar. 

So do you think that you've created events in your mind that never took place?

We all know that memory isn't the most reliable of things and this study certainly gives weight to that.

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In today’s world, there is always something ”on”. We could be out every night of the week. Snapping away pictures for our social media accounts. Exhausted. Probably bored. Wishing we were curled up on the couch, clad in a onesie and flicking through Netflix.

So why aren’t we? Yes, this little thing known as FOMO that most of us are aware of. FOMO – the Fear Of Missing Out.

Of what? A mediocre night that gave you blisters, emptied your already-empty bank account and stole hours of much-needed beauty sleep from you?

Even if that is the case, a shockingly high number of us feel FOMO and we feel it intensely. But what about the people who choose to say f-you to FOMO?

Most of the time I cannot be arsed to RSVP ”yes” to a million and one things that I know I’ll end up bailing on hours before anyway.

And it seems I’m not alone in this bizarre new phenomenon of…wanting to stay in and relax. Shocker.

A survey by Porch.com spoke to 1,000 people and showed that people admitted how much the would rather stay in.

If a nightclub is on the schedule, 48 percent would rather stay on the sofa, for the the gym it’s 29 percent and a surprising 26 percent would skip happy hour.

Maybe it comes down to social anxiety as it seems like food affairs made people more comfortable as less than 10 percent of people would rather stay home than go out to brunch, a fancy dinner or just somewhere casual to eat.

And what about the classic bailing?

C’mon we’re all guilty of it – but what’s our method of choice?

Well, 68.2% cancel by text, 24.2% do the right thing and cancel by text while 4.7% brave people opt for in person leaving 2.2% by email and(thank God) only 0.7% of those who admit to ghosting. You cruel, cruel people.

We might feel fab cancelling until we see all the fun snaps we’re missing online – the survey showed 43.4% of us feel regret after looking at Instagram. And a whopping 69.% feel ashamed for staying in.

Saying no to things isn’t a crime, more and more of us are doing it and you know what? It feels good.

So this week if someone asks ”heading out for the weekend?”, it’s a no from us.

Bring on an American Horror Story marathon and a dirty takeaway.

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It's always refreshing when a celeb speaks candidly about what they're going through – because life isn't all sunshine and rainbows as we know.

Justin Bieber has been vocal about his struggles with mental health problems and he took to Instagram to reveal how he's been feeling lately.

And it's seriously relatable.

The 25-year-old posted a snap of him alongside his manager Scooter Braun and  Kanye West, and he got brutally honest about the shit time he's been having lately. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) on

He captioned it, ''Just wanted to keep you guys updated a little bit hopefully what I’m going through will resonate with you guys. Been struggling a lot. Just feeling super disconnected and weird…''

He continued, ''I always bounce back so I’m not worried just wanted to reach out and ask for your guys to pray for me. God is faithful and ur prayers really work thanks…the most human season I’ve ever been in facing my stuff head on…'

His fans were obviously worried about the singer but also penned messages of support. 

One said, ''Honesty is sexy bro! Good to share our struggles with such a powerful medium like Instagram!''

While another wrote, ''Justin, thanks for reaching out. It's okay to not be okay. It is not a sign of weakness, it is being HUMAN.''

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) on

Justin opened up about mental health before when he told NME how fame has affected him.

He said, ''I’m struggling to get through the days. I think a lot of people are.''

He continued, ''You get lonely, you know, when you’re on the road. People see the glam and the amazing stuff, but they don’t know the other side.”

We applaud Justin for being so transparent about his struggles and making us feel a little less alone because, as we all know, life ain't easy.

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With winter quickly approaching, most families dread the onset of seasonal ills. From contracting the common cold to coming down with a serious case of the flu, there is nothing as frustrating as a blocked nose and a sore, scratchy throat when you’re trying to sleep during a long cold night.

Why does the air become so dry in the winter? When the cold winter weather sets in, we tend to crank up our heating system which causes overly dry indoor air. While your heater increases the temperature in your home, there is no moisture added to the air. As a result, the relative humidity drops considerably.

If you haven’t thought about the benefits of using a humidifier, here are five reasons why you should consider humidifying your household when the cold winter weather sets in.

 

1. Reduction in the Spread of Viruses

Unlike those old wives’ tales, there is research behind why you should keep your air moist. There was a time when doctors would suggest leaving windows open for those suffering from colds and flu. Although they didn’t have the science yet to prove it, we now know that influenza viruses hate moist air and are less likely to spread throughout the household if you use a humidifier. No, you don’t need to open a window to let the snow in, get a humidifier!

2. Relief from Sinusitis

While you may not come down with a cold or flu—sore, dry noses are prevalent in winter months. Most households are heated with dry heat and, as a result, many people suffer from what is called sinusitis. It’s simply an inflammation of the sinuses, but you can find a great deal of relief from a humidifier.

3. Hydrates Dry Skin

The same dry heat that causes an inflammation of the sinuses can create havoc on your skin. If you find that you suffer from dry skin, humidifying your household can bring you relief. Some people have reported that they can even cut back on the amount of moisturizer they apply during the winter because the moist air in their homes helps to protect their skin.

4. A Better Night’s Rest

As silly as this might sound, humidifiers can offer the benefit of improved sleep, especially if your partner is known for those loud snores that keep you from drifting off. Considering that humidifiers keep the air moist and moisture keeps the nasal passages clear, a humidifier just might offer the relief you are looking for.

5. Promotes Faster Healing

A humidifier can help reduce the symptoms of a common cold, influenza or even allergies.A humidifier keeps your nasal passages clear which helps speed up the healing process if you’re feeling under the weather. For people with bad allergies, there are even humidifiers which can help purify the air.

When all is said and done, keeping the home humidified in the winter months can truly be beneficial to your health. However, if you don't want to spend the money on a humidifier and would like to use natural solutions to combat dry air this winter, try these alternative ways to increase humidity at home.

Keep in mind, if you’re struggling to fight the dry air in your home, it is vital not to overuse your heating system, especially when a simple jumper may suffice. It will obviously take intervention on your part, but these are five very important reasons to use a humidifier during those long, cold winter months.

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One in five 18-34 year-olds have cried due to anxiety this week. 

That's according to a new poll that came out yesterday from the mental health charity, Mind

The poll was conducted by Populas, and they interviewed 2,063 adults online in May of this year. 

"Anxiety has now become level with depression as the most common reason for calls to Mind’s information line," the charity says.

"In 2014/15 alone there were 6,087 calls about anxiety and panic attacks, which accounted for nearly one in six of all calls."

Gender was also shown to play a major role in anxiety, with women being three times more likely than men to have cried because of anxiety in the last week. 

However, women were also twice as likely to feel better after crying. 

The charity has launched a free guide for people to help them recognise if what they're going through is anxiety, and the best ways to cope with and manage it. 

It comes at a much-needed time, as the demands of our modern society and being constantly plugged-in and unable to escape work or social obligations, it seems that we are all more anxious than ever. 

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Women are guilty of all of these 5 habits at one stage or another.

If you learn to let them go, you can guarantee a happier and content life.

1. Self-deprecation
Every woman is guilty of saying how big they think their thighs are or how they wish they were a little taller. Learn to love yourself and others will too.

2. Gossiping
Sometimes gossip can seem harmless, but it isn’t to the person you are gossiping about. Quit the bitching and let’s all get along!

3. Not looking after your mind
Hours of junk TV can leave you feeling a bit zoned out. Try to learn new things through reading or going to new places.

4. Jealousy
The green-eyed monster is the reason so many of us ladies don’t get on. Be happy with what you have and be happy for that girl who seems to have it all too.

5. Not looking after your body
You know what they say; ‘Healthy body, Healthy mind’. If you binge on junk food then you can’t expect to feel too good. Eat lots of fruit and veggies, drink lots of water and get 30 minutes of exercise a day to feel in great condition.

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