10 for a better week...

No, really 11 things to help you have a better week...

 1. make your bed after you get up, every time! Even if you just fluff the covers and puff the pillows, it makes your room look neater and keeps the sheets cleaner. Sweeping or vacuuming around your bed will keep your sheets cleaner too, most of us dress/undress beside the bed and threads and so forth get tracked right on in.

2. clean up one pile of "stuff" somewhere in your home. The mail on the desk, the craft project from the weekend, dishes that have wandered far away, toys, music, etc. Make it go back where it came from!

3. make your bathroom mirrors sparkle, include any hand mirrors you use. 'nuff said.

4. stay hydrated with water. Or green tea. Stay away from juices, sugary sodas and such, and sweet tea. Have those as a special "treat" if you need to but not with a meal. Keep a bottle of ice water with you, replenish when needed.

 5. do someone else's chore for them. If your kid or spouse is the daily litterbox scooper or dishwasher loader or whatever, do their chore one day a week for them. Not the same chore for the same person every time though, switch it up!

6. make a meatless meal at least twice a week. Put beans on to soak before 10am and start them cooking the next day after lunch. Or have a huge salad, shred some veggies and make fried patties(oven fried works too), sweet potato fries, make pasta and serve with roasted veggies in bottled marinara sauce, etc., etc.

 7. listen to music instead of watching tv. Fun music, dance tunes, soothing instrumentals, whatever.

8. learn something new. How to play an instrument, how to build a bird feeder, something about a place you've always wanted to visit, anything! It keeps your brain occupied in a good way.

9. cultivate a good habit. Pick up your clothes and put them in a laundry hamper, every day. Lock your door behind you when you come in the house. Every time you pass through a room look to see what needs to be put somewhere else.

10. Get some nature in you. Visit a park, smell a flower, watch a bird, the clouds, the trees swaying in a breeze, raindrops, sunsets(one of my favorite views is from one of the main roads in my town). Just sitting in the parking lot at Wal Mart can allow a little nature in by watching the sparrows hopping around in search of crumbs.

11. smile and enjoy your life!