Boosting Your Overall Wellness This Spring!
 The meaning of the word Spring literally means to arise up or originate from a source or place. It’s more than just a season or an action. We can relate it to a place inside us that provides a source of meaning to our life as to why we do things the way we do them, and how we do them. The source is called our wellbeing. If our wellbeing isn’t right, everything that springs from us cannot flourish as it is meant to.
Now that we are in spring, it is a good time to focus on your own wellbeing. Take the time to search for things that can be pruned back to make way for new growth to flourish.
Here are 5 tips to increase your self-care, emotional wellbeing, and overall happiness.
- Feel energized by the spring
According to Peter Walschburger, Professor Emeritus of Biopsychology at the Freie Universität Berlin, “Human beings are programmed to rest when it’s dark, and to be active and in high spirits when it’s light”. Now that it’s getting warmer, the layers of clothing start to come off, and we can start doing outdoor activities once again. Indeed, the feeling of warm sun on our skin makes us feel generally upbeat. So, we can rely on spring to make us feel energized, without having to rely too much on caffeine.
- Enjoying nature
Spring is a beautiful time to spend outdoors. Walking outdoors is a common way to enjoy the springtime and treat your body to some extra exercise. Although most of us know the endless benefits of exercise; we still don’t get enough. Exercise helps to boost your creativity even more by increasing oxygen flow to the brain. With the beauty of the spring, you can enjoy the great outdoors such as hiking, rock climbing, canoeing, or just a stroll in the park is a great way to burn some extra calories and connect with nature. Spending time in nature also offers mental benefits; studies have shown spending time in nature is connected to decreased anxiety and depression.
- More time for socializing
Spending time with our family and friends is ultra-healthy (both socially and mentally), but it’s a bit of a hassle to pull on a coat, a scarf, gloves, and a pair of boots before going out, so you’re more likely to be tempted to just stay in during the winter. And of course, one consequence of less socializing is that we engage in fewer physical activities in general: no more quick lunchtime walks, or after dinner strolls. Studies have found that going for a walk outside lowers blood pressure, stress levels, improves focus, helps us heel quicker, slows ageing and simply make us happier! Thankfully, spring gives us more daylight and warmth to encourage us to get out and socialize.
- It's the season to bask in Vitamin D
While there may be different factors involved, Vitamin D deficiency is a very real thing. Its symptoms include, among others, aching bones, brain fog and dark moods. But now that the sun is staying up past four in the afternoon and it will soon be warm enough to show some skin outdoors, we’ll be getting a welcome extra dose of Vitamin D.
- More time for flowers, plants, and the soil
This is the time when flowers start to blossom, and we have more time to spend with our plants in the garden. Researchers have found that smelling roses or even pulling up weeds can decrease blood pressure, increase brain activity, and produce a sense of wellbeing. They have also observed that allotment gardening can play a key role in promoting mental wellbeing and could even be used as a preventive health measure.
Sources:
Here Comes the Sun: Mental Health Benefits of Spring Dennis Relojo-Howell
Spring into happiness Cara Davis April 16, 2019
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