There’s something about Spring that makes you want to smell the flowers--maybe even plant a few. You get ready to spend more time outdoors and make plans for projects to renew your home and yard. The only question is, Do you have enough energy to jump into Spring with a flourish? If not, you may need to make plans to renew yourself first.

Here are a few quick and easy ideas for boosting your energy. Apply some of these ideas this month, let Kate know how they worked for you (email:ktlarsen@aol.com or www.katelarsen, com) and receive a free copy of Kate’s.50 Productivity Boosters: Ideas for Increasing Energy and Reducing Stress.:

Fine tune now, avoid an overhaul later. Maintenance is the secret to putting off rust, breakdown and burnout. It doesn't take a lot of time to get the oil changed every three thousand miles, but without those 10-minute oil change stops, you have the expense of a blown engine. The same is true of 10-minute walks, 10-minute calls with friends and 10 minutes of quiet time to start your day A small indulgence makes a big difference. Indulge yourself in your heart’s desires of a little maintenance time and avoid the expense, hassle, frustration and disappointment of an overhaul.

Not Fun, Not Done. When it comes to exercise, Jane Fonda first uttered these infamous words: "No pain, no gain." Today, the healthier, safer saying is, "Not fun, not done." The Surgeon General has issued a clear warning to get active, but the reality is that few people will be heeding the call if they don't enjoy the activity they're doing. If you want to stick with (not just start and stop) a physical activity, be careful what you choose. Believe me, if it’s not fun, it won't be done for very long.

Breathe! Throughout your day, consciously pause and breath deeply. For instance: every time you wait at a stoplight or whenever your phone rings. Adults have a tendency to chest breathe (shallow, chest-high-only breaths) instead of breathing deeply into the diaphragm. Imagine filling a balloon up inside your chest area, and let your stomach area expand also. And don't forget to relax your facial muscles while you breathe deeply

Invest in Your Wardrobe. Can you recall the boost you've felt when you've put on a new pair of shoes, a new scarf or tie? Wearing something new--that you feel sharp in--is a special boost you can give yourself. You can keep the expense as low as a pair of earrings or as steep as a whole new outfit. Your clothes are an investment--not something simply to cover your underwear!

Have a Six-pack in Your Car and Office. Okay, donY get excited. This isn’t the go-ahead on crazy here! That six-pack should be water. If it’s available while you drive and work, you will be more likely to drink it. The more water, the better for your health and energy

Get Regular Check-ups, Do a Risk Analysis and a Fitness Profile. A physical check-up gives you a baseline reading on your health and changes in your blood pressure, weight and heart rate. Also, a full blood chemistry workup lets you and your doctor know how your immune system and other organs are functioning.

A health risk appraisal analyzes lifestyle behaviors that are known to negatively affect your health. It then provides specific behavior modifications to help reduce the probability of certain diseases occurring in the future. A typical appraisal has 25-40 questions on nutritional habits, exercise involvement, family history and lifestyle choices. This appraisal can provide focus, direction and knowledge for making lifestyle choices that can save your life.

A fitness profile measures your level of fitness in each of the areas of optimum fitness, using a variety of fitness tests. Generally, this profile will measure your body composition (body fat), aerobic capacity (how well your heart and lungs work), muscle strength and endurance, as well as your flexibility.

Having one or all of these check-ups done is a gift for yourself--not a chore. They can help you make better, more energy-boosting ideas every day

CALL US: 888.LIF.WALK

Kate is a senior partner with CLC, Inc.