There are so many different elements to think about when it comes to taking care of yourself, and sometimes just remembering them all is a bit difficult. As women, one of the things that often falls through the cracks of our busy lives is regular checkups at our doctor. Some days seem more like a series of putting out fires rather than actually getting things done. But if you plan ahead, then getting these appointments into your schedule will seem like a piece of cake.

Spring is the perfect time to make sure that you get all of these appointments scheduled for yourself. Get into the habit of making this season about getting your health together and just making sure that everything is working properly. When the birds start singing in the trees once again, that should become a sign to you that spring is coming and it’s time to clean house… the house of your body. Spring cleaning should signify getting all of your affairs in order, whether it’s cleaning out the attic, getting your papers set for the future, or cleaning your body up so that you can function at peak performance for another year.Spring cleaning is a whole life cleaning experience, so don’t forget the most important part.

Here is a checklist of important screening tests and checkups so that you can make sure all parts of your health are covered.

1. Every woman should have a yearly visit with her gynecologist. A simple pap smear can help catch a problem before it becomes a health-threatening issue. All women over the age of 40 should have regular mammograms as well. With breast cancer, early detection is key to being able to take care of it before it takes your life. If you have breast cancer in your family, especially if your mother had breast cancer, then doctors recommend that you begin getting your yearly mammogram 10 years before the age at which your closest relative was diagnosed with breast cancer. For example, if your mother was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 45, then you should start your yearly mammograms as early as 35 years of age because experts say the risk of having breast cancer rises dramatically if you have a relative who was diagnosed with it.

2. In addition to your regular women’s health checkup, don’t forget to make an appointment for a physical with your family doctor. This is probably the one checkup that is neglected the most, but it is just as important as all the other checkups you should be doing. Heart health is extremely important as we age, and catching problems early is the key to successful treatment.

3. Don’t neglect your teeth when you’re scheduling your checkups. While most people may not necessarily forget to go see the dentist, often they just avoid it because dentists tend to get a bad rap. However, if you wait until that cavity starts to hurt, you will find yourself with many larger holes in your teeth than you would if you went to the dentist regularly. Dental checkups can find cavities while they are still very small, and the overall experience is much less painful this way. Also you end up saving a lot more of your teeth because any cavities the dentist does find will likely not be large enough to involve pulling out the entire tooth. Dentists recommend that you get your teeth checked out every six months, so schedule your current dental appointment and also one six months from now just so you’re covered for the entire year. Just remember to write them both down on the calendar!

4. You will also find it very helpful to go in for an emotional checkup. This one probably seems less obvious than the others, but it is just as important. An emotional checkup may involve seeing a therapist or even talking to your family doctor. It can also be as simple as taking some time to yourself to evaluate your life. You may find it helpful to hire a coach or other expert to help make sure that you are on track for life and meeting all of your goals.

Having regular checkups is important not only for your own health, but also for your children’s health. If they see mom not getting her checkups on a regular basis, then they will undoubtedly fall into the same pattern when they become adults. Just because you’re around now to schedule these appointments and make sure your children keep them, don’t expect that they will learn from this. The way you care (or don’t care) about your own health will reverberate with your children for the rest of their lives. It’s important to set a good example for them to follow later in life, even if they complain at you right now about all of those checkups.