Spring Clean Your Life: How to Refresh Your Routine and Achieve Your Goals
Spring is more than just a season; it's a feeling. It's the gentle warmth of the sun, the vibrant burst of new blossoms, and the undeniable urge to shake off the winter blues.
This time of year, is a great time to refresh the energy in your home, but also in your life! Because spring cleaning is essential, but not exactly fun! I always try to extend that refreshing energy beyond my home, but to other aspects of my life – my daily routine, mindset, social calendar and health. Consider this your guide to spring cleaning your life, a holistic approach to resetting, reorganizing, and embracing the joy of the warmer months.
Spring Clean Your Life: How to Refresh Your Routine & Achieve Your Goals
The Mental Refresh: Clearing the Cobwebs of Winter
Winter can be a time of hibernation, both physically and mentally. As the days lengthen, it's crucial to shed those lingering shadows and cultivate a brighter outlook.
Digital Detox: Start by decluttering your digital space. Unsubscribe from unnecessary emails, unfollow accounts that don't inspire you, and set time limits for social media. This conscious pruning creates space for more meaningful online interactions and reduces mental clutter.
Mindful Movement: Trade in your winter sluggishness for energizing activities. Embrace outdoor walks, yoga in the park, or even a simple stretch in the morning sun. Movement fuels both body and mind, releasing endorphins and boosting your mood.
Journaling & Reflection: Take time to reflect on the past few months. What worked? What didn't? What are you grateful for? Journaling can be a powerful tool for self-discovery and setting intentions for the future.
Cultivate Gratitude: Make a conscious effort to appreciate the small things. Notice the budding flowers, the birdsong, and the longer daylight hours. Gratitude shifts your focus to the positive, creating a sense of contentment.
Reorganizing Your Routine: A Fresh Foundation
A well-organized routine provides structure and frees up mental energy, allowing you to focus on what truly matters.
Time Audit: Track how you spend your time for a week. Are there time-wasting habits you can eliminate? Can you delegate tasks or automate processes? Identifying time leaks allows you to reclaim valuable hours.
Prioritize & Plan: Define your goals for the spring and summer. Break them down into manageable steps and schedule them into your calendar. This proactive approach prevents overwhelm and ensures you're making progress.
Streamline Your Space: Apply the KonMari method to your physical environment. Declutter your closet, organize your workspace, and create a serene sanctuary in your bedroom. A tidy space fosters a calmer mind. Her style may have been a little extreme but modify the principles for what works for you.
Make Meal Prep Happen: As the weather warms, embrace lighter, healthier meals. Plan your weekly menu, shop strategically, and prep ingredients in advance. This saves time and ensures you're nourishing your body with fresh, seasonal produce. And if you are working on a fitness journey to shape up for summer, planning meals will help bring you closer to that goal.
Plan Your Summer Adventures
Spring and summer are synonymous with fun and adventure. Plan activities that bring you joy and create lasting memories.
Outdoor Escapes: Explore local parks, hiking trails, or beaches. Pack a picnic, rent a kayak, or simply enjoy a leisurely stroll. Immersing yourself in nature is a powerful way to recharge and reconnect with yourself.
Community Connection: Attend local festivals, farmers markets, or outdoor concerts. Connect with your community and discover hidden gems in your neighborhood.
Creative Pursuits: Try a new hobby, like painting, gardening, or photography. The longer days offer ample opportunity to explore your creative side.
Travel Booking: Now is the perfect time to plan a vacation! I just came back from an incredible adventure in Cambodia and am planning a summer trip to Indonesia. Think about some destinations that have been on your bucket list or plan a smaller mini adventure. Even if it's a weekend getaway, plan something small and affordable, but unique to look forward to.
Social Gatherings: Host a backyard barbecue, organize a picnic with friends, or plan a sunset hike. Spring and summer are perfect for creating shared experiences and strengthening bonds.
Seasonal Eating: Research what local produce is in season and plan meals around it. Farmers markets are a great place to begin.
Spring cleaning your life is an ongoing process, not a one-time event. Embrace the journey, be patient with yourself, and celebrate the small victories along the way. As you shed the layers of winter and embrace the warmth of spring, you'll discover a brighter, more radiant you.
This spring let's not just clean our homes but cultivate a life that reflects the beauty and vitality of the season. Let's bloom brighter, together.
What are you looking forward to most about Spring?
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How to Explore Lebanon: Safety Tips You Need Before You Plan Your Trip
So it has been a long time since I’ve done a Lebanon update here, but I hope you have been following my adventures on Instagram and TikTok. By the time I’m posting this, I am back in the U.S after spending 2 years in Lebanon, and the experience is equal parts relaxing and overwhelming.
Lebanon has been an incredible place to live the past 2 years, and the feeling of leaving is bittersweet. Its not the most obvious choice for tourists and there is a lot of misinformation about Lebanon, but it’s such an incredible country it really should be on everyone’s list.
Keep reading for some of the most important things you need to know if you want to plan a trip to Lebanon!
How to Explore Lebanon:
Safety Tips You Need Before You Plan Your Trip
What is Lebanon really like right now?
Lebanon is currently facing a severe economic crisis of historic proportions. The country's once stable banking system collapsed, causing a dramatic depreciation of the local currency and skyrocketing inflation, leaving many struggling to make ends meet. People have had their savings trapped in banks due to limits on how much can be withdrawn, and many have resorted to arming themselves and holding banks hostage to demand their savings.
Even basic necessities like electricity and fuel are in shortage, and people are forced to rely on expensive private generators or spend most of their day with no power, no refrigeration, no AC in the summer or heating in the winter. All of this was exacerbated by the devastating port explosion that occurred in 2020.
The port explosion of 2020 caused immense damage to Beirut's port area and nearby neighborhoods, leaving scars that are still visible today. The rebuilding process is ongoing and I’m astonished and inspired every day by the resilience of the Lebanese people.
But despite the challenges, Lebanon offers a whole different world. Even amidst the economic crisis, you'll find a vibrant and stylish lifestyle and some incredibly high end experiences you will never forget. . The city is buzzing with trendy cafes, eclectic art scenes, and a nightlife that knows no bounds. Lebanon continues to captivate international tourists and its easy to see why. From the ancient ruins of Baalbek to the stunning coastline of Byblos, this country boasts a rich history and breathtaking landscapes. Tourists still flock here to explore the diverse culture, indulge in delicious cuisine, and soak up the Mediterranean sun.
Is Lebanon safe to travel to?
I am someone who generally speaking pays attention to travel advisories and right now the U.S Department of State has Lebanon on a Level 3 travel advisory. They mention specific areas of Lebanon to avoid and detail the reasons why, so while I live here, I do avoid the areas highlighted because I want to exercise caution. I recommend every traveler check with their embassy or consulate for their guidance on safety.
But I do feel safer and more comfortable here as a woman than I have in several other countries like Egypt, Jordan, and Morocco. In most of the country you can wear whatever you want, there is no street harassment and people are genuinely friendly and helpful to tourists. There really isn’t a scammy culture here, so in that sense it is really easy to relax and enjoy your time as a tourist.
For black travelers in particular, your experience may vary. I was mostly treated well and really don’t have any racist horror stories, but I know that is not the case for many of my friends, especially darker skin travelers or people that are African, not American. There are a lot of African migrant workers that come as domestic helpers in Lebanon, and a lot of those people, mostly women, suffer discrimination and mistreatment and are treated like second class citizens. That kind of sentiment can carry over and impact tourists, but for the most part I was safe and free from harassment, and all my African American friends and family that visited said the same thing. You definitely will draw some attention, but not necessarily in a negative way, but there are just not a lot of black tourists here, so you’ll stand out. If that makes you nervous, you can definitely hire a tour guide or driver and I’ll leave some links below that may help!
What’s the deal with the money?
As I mentioned earlier, the collapse of the banking system caused the Lebanese lira to become completely devalued. The bank rate was pegged to the dollar at 1515 to $1, but as the economy collapsed an almost universally used parallel market emerged. When I moved here in 2021 the parallel market rate was $1 to $17,000 and as I’m filming this video its now $1 to $93,000. The local currency has lost over 90% of it’s value and people that depend on Lebanese lira or get paid in lira are truly suffering.
This won’t impact you much as a tourist because you are coming in with foreign currency and probably won’t even need to change money. Almost every restaurant, grocery store, beach, site, like literally anywhere you will go will have prices in US dollars, so if you are coming as a tourist just bring plenty of cash in small bills and be careful using credit cards. They are not accepted everywhere, some may charge exorbitant fees or even the bank rate making you pay 10 times more. And if you run out of money on your trip, you can always look for an OMT or Western Union and have someone send you some cash.
What should be on my Lebanon itinerary?
The amazing thing about Lebanon is anything you can think of, you can do here! In summer it’s all about the beaches! Private beach clubs or public beaches are amazing, and there are plenty of sunset bars by the sea or in the mountains that have incredible views, plus there is world-class hiking if that is your thing. Don’t miss Batroun and Byblos, two of the oldest inhabited cities and both beautiful places to explore.
If you’re coming in winter, don’t miss ski season! The mountains are stunning and you will have a blast skiing, snowboarding and staying in the cute winter chalets dotting the mountains. If you’re here in Spring you may get lucky and find the perfect weather combination for you to ski and the morning and hit the beach in the afternoon!
Lebanon also has a ton of museums, art galleries, and cultural events, like the Byblos Tango Festival, Beitadine Festival, Balbeck Music Festival, Beirut Chants Classical Music festival and more. And whatever you do, don’t miss the chance to eat all the Lebanese food you can, it is off the charts delicious. I think that is the thing I’m going to miss most about life here to be honest.
Hopefully this post will help you plan a trip to Lebanon if you’ve been curious about visiting. And be sure to check out my playlists on TikTok and YouTube all about life in Lebanon and the best places to visit.
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So I Moved to Lebanon
It’s been ages since I posted, I know! Things have been pretty busy with everything going on, and it also prompted me to take a much needed digital break.
But in case you don’t follow me on Instagram or YouTube, here is what you missed!
I moved to Beirut, Lebanon.
Lebanon is a stunning country on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It has a rich culture and history, incredible food, and beautiful scenery. It is unfortunately now suffering through multiple crises, from an economic crisis and hyperinflation to a shortage of essential goods, like fuel and basic medications. Despite the struggles, I have fallen in love with life here and all the potential this place has to offer.
Keep reading for some FAQ’s about my life as an expat in Lebanon.
What made you decide to move to Lebanon
This is the big one! The timing of the move was unexpected considering everything happening in the country, but we are making the best of it. The main reason for the move was a big job opportunity for my husband that we just couldn’t turn down. We are both people that love to travel and we have both lived abroad before, so this was a step that made sense for us, and I knew that we would likely move abroad together at some point in our relationship. Lebanon was not one of the places we imagined ourselves living, but we also knew that it would be an incredible experience for us both. We almost backtracked on the decision in the aftermath of the devastating port explosion on August 4th, 2020. We began to question whether we should still make the move, but we took a leap of faith and are overjoyed with our decision so far.
What are some things you love about Lebanon?
We moved over the summer, and it was the best time. The beaches are incredible and very few things beat watching the sunsets on the Mediterranean. I also love the Beirut beach club scene – they are all little private beach or pool clubs that have a different vibe – from pure relaxation to full blown parties. I have even fallen in love with nightlife again! In the US I stopped clubbing years ago, but it’s just a whole different ball game here. There is also a great beach scene, with private clubs that all have a different vibe.
Even the food and dining are remarkable, and even though I have never been a big fan of gin, the local distilleries have made me do a complete 180! I’ve only been here a few months I have already had so many unique experiences.
What about everything we hear on the news about Lebanon?
Well yea a lot of that is true.
It’s a long and complicated situation that cannot be adequately explained in this post, but conditions in the country began to rapidly deteriorate after the port explosion in 2020. Lebanon is currently experiencing one of the most devastating financial crisis ever seen. The Lebanese Lira has lost 90% of its value, many local businesses no longer take credit cards because of the collapse of the banking system. The price for goods and services are in a constant state of fluctuation. The Lebanese government resigned in the wake of the port explosion last year, and the country has had severe infrastructure issues since then. There are shortages of everything from fuel to medications, constant blackouts and issues with plumping and water quality. Almost everyone relies on private fuel run generators for power which are extremely expensive considering wages in the country.
And as much as I love the super fresh food, things go bad fast and food poisoning/food borne illnesses are extremely common, especially in the summer.
The mood has gotten more and more tense as the economic issues worsen and no one can predict what will happen over the course of the next few months. But all I can tell you is that we are safe and staying prepared.
So what’s next for this chapter in your life?
I’m not sure but am taking it day by day. The opportunity to move to a new country and the end of the year are the perfect time to really consider life’s changing directions and how to adjust. I have found myself moving more slowly and with more consideration, less focused on hustling and more focused just on living. But I am happily working in a new job and rebranding my business to more adequately reflect where I am in life right now.
And if you want to keep up, please follow me on Instagram @whereismalikah and on my brand-new YouTube channel for a look at this new chapter in my life and how it continues to evolve.
