It’s that time of year again: Winter comes to an end, signs of spring emerge... and it’s time for our annual deep clean! Many of us use the term “spring cleaning” loosely, but it’s an actual practice (dating back centuries) that also has some specific health benefits. So what is spring cleaning and why do we do it?

One of the more underrated tools present in almost every daily beauty/personal care regimen is the brush (and no, they’re not just for hair!). Brushes have multiple other purposes, ranging from improving oral health to applying cosmetics. While Americans are very familiar with these common uses, there’s another lesser-known brush technique touted for a range of health benefits: dry brushing.

Lose weight. Exercise more. Eat better. Drink more water. The new year often signifies a time of fresh starts and new beginnings. Most Americans make New Year’s resolutions, but drastically fewer of us accomplish them. (Whoops!) So what is it that gets in the way of remembering or acting on our resolutions? Why do we struggle to keep them up as the year goes on? What is most challenging about implementing lifestyle changes that we know are good for us?