Spring Cleaning? Don't Forget Your Medicine Cabinet!

I like living in Florida, I really do.

With all the cold and snow and ice and sleet the rest of the country has dealt with of late, I'm not complaining.

But... if I did have a complaint, it's that living this far south means I miss out on Spring. A real, honest-to-goodness Spring day.

It's just not the same here. I guess you have to taste a little cold and muck to fully appreciate the feeling of rebirth and renewal that a true Spring day delivers.

Still, no matter where you live, with Spring coming, it's a good time to capture that spirit and use it.

By clearing out the old, and trying something new.

I don't want to dictate what "spring cleaning" means to you in your house. We all have our own clutter to tackle.

Still, one thing that's good to do at least once a year is clean out the medicine cabinet. I'm fortunate enough to not have prescriptions to deal with, but I'm in the minority.

Whether prescription or over-the-counter, there's no reason to keep expired meds in the house. Except remember this tip: most OTC meds last far longer than the labeled "expiration," if they're unopened.

And you might consider moving meds out of the bathroom and into a pantry or closet. Moist heat is probably the worst condition to store medicine in. Whoever came up with the idea of a "medicine cabinet" next to the shower wasn't thinking straight.

Now that the cleaning is done, it's time to do a little renewing for ourselves. And with warmer weather coming, and longer days of sunshine, it often means we feel more motivated to exercise.

Why not try something new? Like planting a new garden. Volunteering at a river or park cleanup.

Or just dedicating a moment each day to get your blood pumping a little.

A regular walk. Dust off your bike. Even just regular sit-ups or pushups. Go at your own speed, don't try too much too fast, but do commit to be more active.

The benefits of regular movement are so widespread, it's like the most important drug you can ever take.

And it never expires!