By Emily Countryman

Spring is here. It’s time for a Spring Cleaning for your health and wellness.

We are creatures of habit, and over time our bad habits tend to rule. If you made some New Year’s resolutions to improve your health, you might have forgotten about them by now. Or they’re still there, nagging in the back of your mind as you order take out or skip the gym for the third time this week. Spring is a great time to revisit those goals, revamp them and be realistic with your motivation and expectations. Here are some great ways to put a Spring back in your step:

•Schedule It: When is the last time you had an eye exam, chiropractic adjustment, had a physical or saw your dentist? Now is a great time to set up all of those appointments. It is much easier to maintain good health than try to recover it if it slips.

•Pick It: What are the most-significant health concerns that keep you up at night? When our list of things to do or change is a mile long, it can be overwhelming. Picking a single thing on your list and forgetting the rest, for now, can significantly help reduce the stress. Maybe you incorporate only five minutes of exercise into your daily routine or vow not to drink any pop or alcohol for just one week. Attempting to tackle them all at once is a recipe for disaster.

•Move It: Clean up your space. If you are always telling yourself you will clean your desk, car, closet or garage later, set aside some time each day to tackle it. Don’t forget to clean out that medicine cabinet and pantry and toss expired food and medications. Cleaning up not only helps remove dust and allergens but a clean space makes us happy. Being less stressed and in a positive mood is good for the mind and body. •Grow It: Do you have some favorite spring and summertime veggies and fruits? Why not grow them? It’s great for the environment and great for your health. If your thumb isn’t so green, try a small herb garden in your kitchen window.

•Write It: Writing your goals and actions down is a great way to stay accountable. You can keep it private or share it with your friends, spouse or the world on social media. Even if you keep it to yourself, reviewing it every day will keep it top of mind and on the priority list. Whatever action you take, remember, it will bring you one step closer to achieving your health and wellness goals. So get out there and be well.

Emily Countryman is a board-certified health coach and owner of Ideal Wellness in Marysville. Her health column runs monthly.