Ways to "Spring" into Good Health

February 20, 2025

No matter what winter is like, the first day of spring is always a welcome occasion. Springtime often brings a sense of rejuvenation, renewal, and regrowth as cold temps are replaced by warmer ones. This season is the perfect opportunity to continue to work on maintaining your health or to help motivate you to make lifestyle changes for your physical and mental health.

Here are some tips for helping you and your family take advantage of the healthy possibilities this season:

Spring Cleaning

You’ve probably been anticipating a thorough house or garage cleaning after the long winter months are over. While this may seem like a difficult chore, tidying up your living space can make your home and mind feel clearer. Just as organizing your home will make spaces feel larger and cleaner, it can also have a similar effect on your mental health.

Clearing clutter and putting your things where they belong and out of your path will help you clear your mind and check items off your mental checklist.
Spring cleaning can also go beyond the closet; it can be a great time to revisit and revamp your family's daily routines. Maybe introduce a new evening walk or a weekly game night. It's all about creating those moments that bring you closer together while staying active.

Be Mindful

Mental health matters! Just as we spring clean our homes, let's not forget to tend to our mental well-being. Open conversations about feelings and stressors can make a big difference. And sometimes, a little mindfulness or meditation can be just what the doctor ordered for the whole family.

Spring is a great time to begin a new mindfulness exercise. This doesn’t have to mean full meditation—we know how difficult a clear state of mind is to achieve. Consider a quiet activity on which you can focus your mind solely, such as art, yoga, or journaling. Any activity that relaxes you and allows you to quiet your mind is a step toward mindfulness.
Longer daylight hours can also inspire optimism and hope which, in turn, motivate people to spend more time outside. Spending 30 minutes or more outside in warm, sunny, spring weather can improve mood and even memory.

Eat Healthy

The arrival of spring provides the ideal chance to up your consumption of fruits and vegetables. Strawberries, asparagus, spinach, and rhubarb are just a few types of the great variety of nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables usually available during the season.

Because spring brings a bounty of fruits and vegetables, why not make your plates as colorful as the season? Engage the kids by creating a "rainbow challenge," where you try to eat fruits and vegetables of every color throughout the week. It's a fun way to ensure they're getting a variety of nutrients to support the immune system.
The greenery that is starting to emerge around you may inspire you to add green foods into your diet more often as well. Local farmers’ markets will feel more inviting when the sun is shining, and if you have a green thumb, you can get back to your garden for your own fresh vegetables and herbs.
Have you been surviving on soups and decadent comfort foods this winter? Try swapping these out for lighter dishes that better reflect the new season, like salads or fish.

Get Moving!

It probably feels more achievable to start an exercise regimen in the sunny springtime than in the cold, dark winter. Some say springtime is the real new year, and many people find their exercise resolutions easier to stick to in March, April, and May. The warmer weather and longer days make it easier to take part in outdoor activities.

Staying active is a wonderful way to enhance your physical well-being and improve your mood, all while taking advantage of the lovely weather.
Regular exercise reduces stress, lifts the mood, and enhances physical health. It is recommended that adults engage in 150 minutes (2.5 hours) or more of moderate-intensity physical activity per week. Engaging in physical activity has also been demonstrated to lower the likelihood of developing chronic conditions like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and several cancers.
Outdoor adventures await! Spring is the perfect excuse to get outside and soak up some vitamin D (don't forget the sunscreen!). Whether it's a family hike, a walk with friends, a soccer game, running, biking, a game of tennis or pickleball, or a simple walk around the neighborhood, fresh air and exercise can do wonders for everyone's mood and health.

Keep Hydrated

During seasons of hot weather, when the body loses more fluids through sweating, it is especially crucial to consume enough water. You can also stay hydrated by eating foods high in water content, like watermelon, cucumbers, and other citrus fruits. Keep on track with your water consumption by setting reminders to consume water throughout the day.

Get Adequate Sleep

Experts claim the key to a healthy lifestyle depends on getting plenty of sleep. However, it can be harder to fall asleep in a hot, stuffy environment, which is often a result of the warming weather in the spring.

Practice keeping your bedroom cool and well-ventilated to get better sleep.
Deep breathing, meditation, and yoga are a few additional methods that can help you unwind and get a better night's sleep.
Try your best to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night.

Protect Your Skin

People prefer to spend more time outside as the days become longer, which raises the risk of skin cancer and sunburn.

Wear sunscreen that has an SPF level of at least 30 and reapply every two hours after swimming or sweating - or as needed.
To avoid eye damage, you can also utilize protective accessories like hats and sunglasses.

Reconnect With Others

Now that our winter hibernation is over, it’s time to re-enter our social lives and make plans with friends and family. Many people prefer staying in during the winter, but the warmer weather may serve as a motivator to get out and be social. Call up a friend you haven’t seen in a while, or plan a picnic with your family to reconnect and spend quality time with loved ones.

Practice Good Hygiene

It's important to maintain great hygiene throughout the year, but especially in the spring season when allergies and viruses may be more prevalent. The best means of maintaining personal hygiene include regular showers or baths, brushing your teeth twice daily, and wearing clean clothing. If you have allergies, take action to control your symptoms by maintaining a dust-free and clean home.

Navigate Allergy Season

Allergies and spring often have an association with one another because of the increased presence of pollen in the air during this season. As the grass, flowers, and trees blossom, pollen is released into the atmosphere, causing many people to experience allergic responses. The best method to handle allergies in spring is to take precautions that avoid allowing symptoms to develop in the first place.

Avoid going outside in the early morning when pollen counts are at their peak.
If you do go outside, make sure to wash your clothes and take a shower to get the pollen off of your hair and skin.
It is also essential to take allergy medicine as directed by your doctor and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Keeping windows closed during high pollen times and using air purifiers can help manage those pesky symptoms.
Remember, hydration can also ease allergy woes, so keep those water bottles handy.

Pay a Visit to the Doctor

It's a good idea to visit your doctor in the spring to address any health problems you may have and to make sure you've completed the necessary prescribed health screenings and immunizations.

Be sure to check in if you experience seasonal allergies to verify that your symptoms are under control. To better control your allergies, your doctor may advise adjusting your prescription or suggesting alternative forms of therapy.
If you have a chronic medical condition, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, it is important to make sure it's being properly controlled. If necessary, your doctor might suggest adjusting your prescription or treatment regimen.

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