8 Ways to Prepare Your Mind & Body for Spring
Spring signifies both a literal and metaphorical rebirth. The earth literally comes alive again after most of the plants die off during the winter, and many people also use spring as a time to press reset on their lives and establish some healthy habits as we head into the longer days. We rounded up some ideas to help you reset your mind and body for spring, from updating your anti-aging skincare routine to exercising outside more.
Create a daily routine.
Spring is the time of new beginnings, which means that it is the perfect opportunity to create a daily routine if you don’t already have one. Even if you already have a daily routine, you might want to make adjustments to it since spring brings the beginning of longer days and more daylight. We recommend creating a morning and an evening routine to bookend your day, and then building on that as you get adjusted to your new healthy habits.
Adjust your sleep schedule if necessary.
Spring means the start of longer days as well as the beginning of Daylight Saving Time on March 10th in the United States. This means that you might want to adjust your sleeping and waking times to align better with the sunrise and sunset. Even if you are currently in a good sleep routine, many people do find that Daylight Saving Time causes a disruption for at least a few days. Since we are jumping forward an hour, you might want to look into sleep aids such as melatonin to help you fall asleep at your usual time if you are trying to maintain the same routine.
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Meal plan for the spring season.
Spring also means the beginning of the growing season, making it easier to find fresh fruits and vegetables at the grocery store and farmers market. We recommend meal planning healthy dishes around what produce is in season in your area so that you can take advantage of these delicious fruits and vegetables. If you are confident improvising in the kitchen, you can also simply visit your local farmers market to see what’s for sale and then come up with a recipe based on your purchases.
Drink enough water.
In addition to eating healthy foods and fresh produce in spring, you should also make it a point to drink plenty of water. The warmer spring weather means that you will be sweating more, which means that you need to drink more water than you would in the winter time. The amount of water that each individual needs varies a lot from person to person due to factors like size and activity level, though most adults need between three to four liters of fluids a day to stay hydrated. Most of that should be water, but you can also drink non-caffeinated, nonalcoholic beverages such as herbal tea to reach that goal.
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Update your skincare routine.
The arrival of spring means that it’s time to put away your heavy winter products and switch to lightweight skincare for oily skin. For instance, you might want to switch from milk or cream facial cleanser to a gel cleanser that will be more effective at getting rid of oil and sweat. You might also want to swap your heavy creams for lightweight lotions that will soak in quickly and sit better under makeup on warm days. Swapping out your products will help to prevent your face from looking very shiny and will also reduce the chances of clogging your pores and developing breakouts.
Protect your skin from the sun.
You should be wearing sunscreen year-round no matter what, but it’s important to be extra vigilant about it once the days get longer and your skin gets more sun exposure. You should be applying sunscreen of at least SPF 30 every single morning to all of your exposed skin. If you go outside, you should reapply sunscreen every two hours and after getting in the water or sweating profusely. You should also try to avoid the sun’s rays between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when they are the strongest. Finally, you should also supplement the sunscreen with wide brim hats, sunglasses, and UPF clothing to further protect your skin from sun damage.
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Reconsider your fitness regimen.
Winter weather makes it difficult and even dangerous to exercise outside, so many people end up just going to the gym or even slack off on exercising altogether during the colder months. As the weather improves during the spring, you may want to adjust your fitness routine to incorporate more outside activities, such as running, hiking, outdoor yoga, recreational sports, and more. Some fitness groups offer classes outside during the spring and summer, so you might want to check those out to see if they are offered in your area.
Treat your seasonal allergies.
Spring is the beginning of pollen season, which means now is the time to start taking over-the-counter allergy medications if you haven’t already. You might also benefit from doing a sinus rinse and nasal spray once or twice a day to flush the pollen out of your sinuses. Many people also like to supplement with other vitamins and minerals to support an overall healthy immune system and help manage the inflammation that can be caused by pollen allergies.
We hope this list gave you some inspiration to help you reset both your mind and your body as we head into the new season of spring. We’d also love to hear what else you are doing to start spring off right. Are you trying out a new hobby, going for walks every day, or planning a fun trip? Let us know in the comments below!
