Health Connect Series: The Spring Switch
The line for coffee was long last week—longer than usual. The barista smiled when I noted the unusually cheerful bustle and said, “Yup, the sun is out!” It’s no secret—it’s the sun! It lifts your mood and eases the season’s transition. The change is welcome, calling you outdoors to maybe dance in the street, listen to happy music, or walk instead of driving to your nearby destination. Notice these changes. Engage your senses. Taste, touch, smell, hear, and see to truly feel nature’s transition to spring.
Taste. As we move closer to the months of farmers’ markets, pay attention to how the produce changes. The flavors are intensifying, and you crave freshly grown produce. In season right now are arugula, asparagus, basil, mushrooms, radish and rhubarb.
Touch. With the sun higher in the sky, its warmth almost makes it feel like summer, but it’s still winter in the shade. Notice these differences as you pass under a budding tree or cross the street to avoid the shade of a building.
Smell. The familiar scents of spring are here. Breathe in the fresh scents of rain, dirt, and the earth coming back to life.
Hear. Listen carefully to the birds singing, the wind softly rustling new leaves, or rain falling. Does the kind of music you listen to change along with the temperature?
See. Appreciate the Midwest springing back with a rainbow of colors. After looking at brown for months, notice the sprouting green leaves on the trees, and how the bright grass coats the earth. Notice the colors of the flowers starting to bloom. Take in the blue sky and the brightness of the Mississippi River.
The transition to Spring is more than just the sun shining brighter and the vibrant colors emerging once again. As the season changes, so do our routines. From enjoying your hygge with a glowing candle and tea by 5:30 p.m., to watching nature erupt while enjoying an after dinner sunset walk—take advantage of the switch. Use the opportunity to become introspective and take stock of your wellbeing.
A Time for Change. What might you like to change in the coming months? It could be simply getting a few more minutes outdoors or spending more quality time with your friends. Change and transition keep things interesting! As you take note of nature’s changes, do the same for your own well-being.
Make Some Vitamin D. Your body makes vitamin D as you absorb sunlight. On its own, sunshine seems to improve everyone’s mood. But vitamin D helps produce serotonin, the hormone-like substance that gives you the feeling of well-being and happiness. Along with these emotional benefits, vitamin D has an important role in bone health and immunity. Soak up the sun when you can!
Get Outdoors. Vitamin D isn’t the only reason to get outside. Spending time outdoors in nature can help lower stress, improve mental health, increase mood and motivation, and more. As your eyes see daylight, or watch the sun rise and set, your sleep can improve and align your circadian rhythm or sleep cycle.
Remember Social health. The days are longer, and you may have a bit more energy and drive to fill up your day. This is a great opportunity to make plans with friends and focus on your relationships. Plan an outdoor adventure, go on a hike to explore the Coulee Region, window shop downtown, walk along the Mississippi River at Riverside Park, or meander along the marsh trails.
Don’t Forget Self-Care. As your schedule fills up, remember to take care of yourself. It looks different from your winter self-care routine--instead of choosing to stay home and enjoy a book, spring self-care could be going for a sunset walk to add movement in your day, planting your own herbs or flowers, spring-cleaning your home, or giving some extra love to your skin after the dry winter. It’s about what you need in your spring routine to be well.
Let the spring transition be a reminder of the ebb and flow of all things. Mother nature goes through changes and transformations, just as you do in a year or your lifetime. Being productive and having more energy or having less energy at different stages is normal. Romanticize the change and the new life and bold colors spring offers. Buy yourself some flowers and grab a coffee from your favorite coffee shop. You made it through winter. Now, here comes the sun!
Lila Tully, CHES
Health Education Specialist
For questions or comments, contact wellness@viarohealth.com.
