SPRING CLEANING DOS AND DON’TS FOR CLEANING OUT YOUR CLOSETS

Written By Dr. Danielle Litoff

April showers bring May flowers! And spring is the perfect time to do some deep cleaning or organizing you may have avoided over the long winter months. So throw open those closet doors and let’s get things refreshed! When organizing or cleaning out your closets, there is usually lifting and bending involved Having proper technique is critical to not injuring yourself during this process

Dos and Don’ts of High Shelves

High shelves are usually where we put things we don’t need very often Using proper technique when getting things off of or onto a high shelf is especially important to avoid injury This is especially true if the item is heavy or awkward

First, make sure you have a sturdy base that will help you reach that high shelf This could be a step stool or a sturdy ladder This is NOT a chair or anything with wheels Keep your spine neutral and your core engaged Your neutral spine is when the three natural curves of your spine – your cervical (neck), thoracic (middle), and lumbar (lower) curves – are intact. Keep your spine stable and your core engaged and use your body to pull the item to you, keeping your arms and your shoulders engaged and close to your body.

When reaching for something on a high shelf, do not twist In fact, do not twist at all when you are moving anything This is a perfect recipe for a back injury Also do not overextend your back or go up on tip-toes Use a stepstool or sturdy ladder to reach items on a high shelf When you are putting something up on a high shelf, lift it up over your head and use your legs to push it back into place

Dos and Don’ts of Lifting or Setting Down a Box

When you need to move a box or container from the floor when cleaning out your closets, there are three steps to follow First, kneel down close to the box so that you are not bending over or straining your back Then lift a corner of the box so that you can get both hands securely under the box and balance the weight Lastly, keep your spine neutral and bring the box close to your body so that weight is supported, and then stand Follow this same process in reverse when setting a box down

As mentioned before, do NOT twist ever when you are lifting or moving something. Square yourself up with the item before ever attempting to lift it. Also, do not lift with your back. When you bend over and pick something up from the floor, you are forcing your back to do all the work and this is a really good way to injure your lower back. Instead, follow the 1, 2, 3 steps above whenever you are lifting or setting something down so that your legs and core do the work.

Dos and Don’ts of Moving Furniture

Even though you probably don’t have furniture in your closet, moving furniture may be a part of your spring cleaning routine When moving furniture, it is especially important to remember to always PUSH, never pull Pushing something uses the power of your legs and glutes and ensures that if something does go awry, the item will fall away from you, not on you Also pulling is very hard on your back I always recommend furniture movers as well if you are moving something tall or heavy https://www.battlebornhealth.com/ https://www.facebook.com/battlebornhealth/ https://www.instagram.com/battlebornhealth/

Enjoy your refreshed house and thank you for allowing Battle Born Health to help you be stronger than yesterday!

Dr. Danielle Litoff DPT is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Health Coach at Battle Born Health in Reno, NV. Her practice focuses on the principles of modern, proven medicine, delivered with an old-fashioned commitment to patient care and oneon-one relationships. For more wellness tips, visit her blog where she writes about various topics of nutrition, health, and physical therapy."

Who You Are

Written By Jace Jacobs

As I breathe out love, and peace I breathe in What I appreciate appreciates and then I repeat again

I keep saying that phrase to myself despite the challenges I'm facing. I love life. However, much like you, there are challenges I often experience. Everyone has some sort of adversity that tests them each day. The question to ask is what are you going to do about it? I ask myself that same question each day.

Attitude is everything. I like to mix in some self-love through good positive self-talk each day. I like to think of it as being my own personal coach. Do you find it helpful to practice your coaching skills on yourself?

Despite the adversity, when you look in the mirror, do you see the real you? Do you see the person you want to be? The person you are proud to share with those you love?

Rock on with your awesome self. It's always your choice.

Be the You that You want You to be

Enjoy the freedom to follow your bliss

Namaste

Jace Jacobs

Appreciate Everything Love Fully Need Nothing

Who you are

I know who you are Your experience of contrast is true A powerful creator here to expand A gift to the world is you

It doesn't matter what they say It doesn't matter what they do It only matters what you think Powerful thoughts of the real you

So let's filter out the noise Express love and just be Focus on what you want Visualize and attract what you see

If you are willing to believe The best about who you are You'll be connected with your source An alignment that will take you far

Summer is right around the corner. It's a beautiful season and an opportunity to show gratitude. Despite the adversity you face in life, enjoy the beauty of right now.

The cool wind blows through as I soak up the rising sun. Taking nothing for granted as this day has just begun.

Meet Jace Jacobs! Jace Jacobs is a Happy Mindset Poet, Performer, and Creator @ jacejacobs.com. Jace is an author and spoken word poetry performer. His Happy Mindset Poetry books are available on Amazon or via jacejacobs.com. Jace enjoys helping cool souls raise their vibrational state so they can experience more confidence and clarity in their life.Appreciate Everything ~ Love Fully ~ Need Nothing#HappyMindsetPoetryVisit the social media links below for video performances of spoken word rhyming happy mindset poetry. https://www.facebook.com/jacewjacobs/ https://www.youtube.com/jacejacobs https://www.instagram.com/jacejacobs https://twitter.com/jacejacobs