8 Ways To Spice Up Your Life.

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Now more than ever you need cheerful ways to spice up your life! Or, so I’m guessing. And you’re not alone! While COVID-19 restrictions have lifted, and we’re free to leave our homes, many of us are feeling the impacts of the recession. With poor fuel economy and the sheer size of electric bills, we’re all feeling the pinch.

We need to explore cheap and easy ways to spice things up without breaking the bank! For some, this could be re-designing their immediate space using prints, a layer of paint, or even their DIY skills. For others, it could be booking a short getaway. From free experiences to slightly more expensive items, this short guide aims to give some diversity to everyone.

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8 Ways You Can Spice Up Your Life!

Change up your immediate surroundings with PosterStore. 

When life gets busy we can sometimes forget about our immediate surroundings. If things are starting to feel mundane, one of the easiest things you can do to spice up your life is to change your space! I’m not talking about a full-on facelift! Even something as simple as changing up the position of your furniture or switching out wall art can be enough to spark joy! 

PosterStore makes it easier than ever to redesign your living space! With hundreds of prints and frames to choose from, there’s literally something for everyone! This is the second time I’ve worked with PosterStore, and not only do they have a wonderful selection of prints, but they’re a pleasure to work with! 

If you’d like to get yourself a few brand-spanking new pieces for your walls, then check out their website! Better yet? Use discount code 45_CHLOE to get 45% on all posters & 10 % on frames. This doesn’t include Selection posters.

Valid from June 27th until July 4th.

Need more advice on spicing up your space? Check out this post!

Get more natural light!

This was going to be the section wherein I discuss the importance of getting into nature. I so wanted to talk about the joys of beautiful trees, rolling fields, and bird songs. But I also wanted to keep things realistic and practical. I know that quite a few of us are experiencing horrible weather, and not everyone has the privilege of living near a natural area. So, while nature is amazing for your mental health, natural light can be is just as good!

Even if you live in a built-up area, try and get outside! You can go for a walk, or if the weather’s particularly bad, simply draw back the curtains. Natural light has so many benefits for our mood that it’s difficult to know where to start. Sunlight triggers our bodies to produce serotonin which naturally acts as a mood lifter and even helps you focus.

Got a garden space? Great! Here’s how you can create the perfect ambiance outside to help you feel better on the inside.

Practice daily gratitude. 

Gratitude basically giving thanks or appreciation for what we have and receive in life. When things seem nigh impossible there is always something to be grateful for, even if we can’t see it. While going through difficult times in our lives it’s often hard to see the ‘sky for the trees.’ We shield our eyes from the world around us and tend to focus only on the pain.

Positive psychology research has long associated gratitude with improved feelings of happiness. Its thought to improve the positive emotions we feel, allows us to hold onto good experiences, enables us to better deal with adversity, and even help us to build and maintain healthy relationships.

To learn more about gratitude and how you can get started, check out this post!

Try some new recipes!

Even if you’re not much of a whizz in the kitchen, it can be good to learn some new recipes. I don’t often cook, in fact, I’m terrible, but recently I had the pleasure of baking this beautiful lemon honey cheesecake. My husband and I used this gorgeous recipe from The Grumpy Olive and it turned out amazing! I’ll never be a star baker or Gordon Ramsey, but it offers a change of pace.

Good food is often considered the gateway to the soul. Now, two years into long-term recovery, I can wholeheartedly agree! If like me you usually steer clear of the kitchen, this is your sign to challenge that.

Learn something new! 

Maybe cooking really isn’t your thing, and that’s fine! But I am a real nerd when it comes to learning new things. Specifically creative things! I’ve learned so many new skills in the last few years, and I have had an amazing time doing so. I may not be the master of any of them, but I’ve made a start!

Why not pick up a starter kit or book from your local craft store, or learn a new skill online? There are any amount to choose from on the likes of Skillshare or even more traditionally, Youtube!

Organise and declutter your space. 

Take a moment to think about your home and even your work area. Are they causing you to feel overwhelmed? Stressed or flustered? Are you constantly promising that you’ll dust that one spot by the fire?

Cluttered environments heighten feelings of anxiety, reduce productivity, and can cause us to feel physically run down. Yes, you read that all correctly! Clutter is more than just an eyesore! So, with this in mind, set yourself the goal of decluttering your living space over the next few weeks. Get rid of what you don’t need, keep what you do, and always, always, utilise a last-in, last-out system!

Take a digital detox! 

One of the biggest disadvantages of social media is that it can sometimes present things in a really ‘chic‘ way. It has a way of making things look way better than they really are, and a whopping 60% of things we see on social media are fake. The use of sites such as Instagram can present the myth that everyone is living a glam and fabulous lifestyle. We can begin to feel pressured and inadequate next to our peers, and this can lead to various insecurities. In reality, everything’s not always perfect and our flaws can’t be edited out.

Social media specifically has a lasting effect on our mental health and studies have shown that those who’re always online are at a greater risk of things such as depression and anxiety. It can play a huge part in creating and nourishing insecurities and comparisons. By taking time to step away from the web, we’re able to separate ourselves and readjust to reality.

Take a trip!

This suggestion is one of the more expensive ones. And while I understand that in the current economic climate this may not be feasible for everyone, it still deserves a mention. One of the best things to help spice up your life is to escape it. Even for a little while. It can seem counter-productive, but even a short change of scenery can help remind us of what we have back home.

But with the issues we’re currently having with travel, maybe a staycation is a better option. Speaking for myself, we’ve plenty of beautiful places to visit here in Northern Ireland. But, it wasn’t until the pandemic began to lift that we really took notice. While flying was still discouraged, we made an effort to look for staycations at home! Between the ancient columns of the Giant’s Causeway and glamping on a farm in Belfast, we’ve fallen in love with our own ‘wee’ country.

Before dishing out a fortune to travel abroad, take a look around. It’s amazing what you can miss when it’s right on your doorstep!

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Have you any other suggestions for cheap or cheerful ways to spice up your life?