Once the Holiday season comes to an end and we take down the tree and all the Christmas ornaments the house tends to look a little less festive and empty.  Well, here’s a tip to keep up your spirits:

Tip #1: Fill your empty space with some color and some greens.

We’re talking live plants and flowers.  Palms are a good choice because they fill up space and they’re easy to care for, or if you love to cook, there are plenty of herbs that grow well indoors. Building a custom herb planter for your kitchen is a great craft for you and the kids for those trailing empty vacation days. You can use a cardboard egg carton to start the seedlings, and once they’ve sprouted, it’s easy to cut the carton sections and transplant right into the planter (the cardboard will break down in the soil on its own).

Plants are beneficial to our well being in so many ways.  Besides making a room more inviting by adding living energy and color, plants can have a positive effect on our health.  Plants absorb carbon dioxide and other household toxins while producing oxygen, providing cleaner air to breathe.   People who have plants in their home have been known to experience fewer headaches.  Indoor plants make people calmer.  The green color of the plants relaxes the mind.   Incorporating flowers and plants in our home just makes us feel better.  It is an easy and beautiful way to enhance beneficial energy in our lives.

Tip #2: Consider devoting your care to an animal in need.

Although an animal is a much bigger commitment than a plant, caring for any living thing can impart a feeling of purpose, promoting good mental health.  If you live in a pet-friendly environment and you are able (physically and financially), why not consider making room in your life for an animal in need of a loving home?  Taking a dog for a walk exercises you as well as the dog.  A pet can also provide other avenues for making new friends. Also, studies have been done that prove that pet owners tend to feel less lonely.  Most pet owners talk to their pets and after all, pets do not criticize or judge.  They are expert listeners in fact!

If you are considering adding a pet to your home, please make sure to do your homework and choose one that is compatible to your lifestyle.  Also, consider adopting at a local shelter. There are plenty of loving cats and dogs waiting for a good and loving family.  If you live in the East Bay area, try going to www.eastbayspca.org or www.tvar.org where you can get information on volunteering or adopting.

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Day 1: Motivation
Day 2: Just Breathe
Day 3: Back to Basics with Your Health
Day 4: Giving is Receiving
Day 5: Planning One Day at a Time
Day 6: Just A Spoonful of Sugar
Day 7: Positive Thoughts, Positive Outcomes
Day 8: Filter That Water
Day 9: Yoga At Your Computer
Day 10: Look Your Best, Feel Your Best, Be Your Best
Day 11: Be Alert and Stay Safe
Day 12: Giving Back To The Community Starts At Home
Day 13: Reach For That Pomegranate
Day 14: Breathing and Posture
Day 15:  Detox Your Finances
Day 16: Take Time For Entertainment
Day 17: Detox Your Skin
Day 18: Laugh It Up
Day 19: Live In The Moment
Day 20: Mind Your Chin
Day 21: De-clutter Your Life
Day 22: Detox Your Social Circle
Day 23: Blowing The Budget
Day 24: Balancing Work And Family
Day 25: Merry Christmas!
Day 26: Meditate And Get Results
Day 27: Detox The Earth, Detox Your Life
Day 28: Get Back Into Nature