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Last Updated on December 7, 2023
With the winter weather wearing down, the spring season is right around the corner. The winter months can feel long and dreary. If you live in a cold climate, you may be stuck inside for long periods of time, so when spring comes around, it’s time for a fresh breath of air!
People talk about spring cleaning their homes, making drastic measures to get rid of necessary items, thinking this will get themselves organized to take on the rest of the year. While this tackles the materialistic side of things, it’s time to apply spring cleaning to your personal life with self-care. Take time to evaluate yourself create a plan to improve you this spring with a few ideas.
Evaluate How You Feel
Some people may fair through the winter better than others. Take a moment and evaluate how you are feeling emotionally and physically. What is your daily mood? Do you look forward to waking up? Are you energized? Do you feel sluggish? Pausing for a moment will allow you to evaluate what you need as springtime rolls in. Then make a plan and start cleansing yourself physically and emotionally.
Physical Health
Physical and emotional health are directly connected meaning an improvement in one can improve the other. One of the most important influences and regulators in the body is the endocrine system made up of eight different glands. These glands make hormones and release them into the bloodstream where they travel to cells and organs. Hormones are the body’s chemical messengers and are coded with the biochemical instructions our body parts need to keep us functioning. Hormones affect factors such as mood, growth, development, reproduction, and metabolism. It is important that we maintain a proper hormone balance and a doctor should be consulted if any problems are suspected.
Exercise Benefits
While regulation of the endocrine system may require medicines to control imbalances, one thing you can do to help your body on your own is to exercise daily. The spring weather is perfect for exploring the outdoors and inhaling some fresh air. Create a plan to get you moving every day and this will enhance your mood on its own.
Exercising releases chemicals that improve and relax your mood. It is a natural way to reduce stress and anxiety and will help ward off depression. The physical activity stimulates proteins that help with brain functioning, allowing you to find some mental clarity. Just a few active minutes can help you recenter your thinking and focus on a mental task.
Finding something active you enjoy can also help with weight management. Weight isn’t necessarily about looking good, it’s about feeling good and keeping yourself at an ideal weight that is healthy for your body. From 2007 to 2008, 10.4% of the child population aged 2-5 was obese. This becomes problematic. Children should be introduced to exercise and encouraged to play actively in order to develop a healthy lifestyle. If not, they may become part of the two-thirds of U.S. adults suffering from health conditions because they are overweight or obese. Establish some sort of workout plan for yourself and in the early years of your children’s life to prevent problems with cholesterol, blood sugar, or blood pressure. These things can wreak havoc on the endocrine system, but a little exercise can go a long ways.
Diet Plan
If you are feeling sluggish, especially after the holiday feasts and chocolates from Valentine’s Day, it may be time to spring clean your diet. Eating healthy will help with energy levels and give the body what it needs to consume to keep functioning properly.
Everyone’s bodies are different and will have different requirements. It is best to talk with a doctor if you have specific needs or are experiencing problems. If you feel you are just generally wanting to clean up your diet, there are some things you can consider.
- Remove Some Foods: Removing some foods from your diet will get the cleanse started. Alcohols, added sugars, salts, and processed foods are a good place to start. Alcohol impairs brain functioning, but it also stresses the liver and acts as a diuretic, challenging the body to stay hydrated. Too much sugar or salt can lead to heart problems later in life. Processed foods can hide high levels of both of these contents so it is best to eliminate them from your diet.
- Add Some Foods: Add some foods into your diet if you have not already. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and probiotics eaten in moderation are good places to start. A variety of fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants and nutrients the body needs. Whole grains may reduce risks of cancer and heart disease while healthy fats calm the cravings for processed carbs. Lastly, probiotics help regulate gut health and keep the digestive system working.
- Think Before You Eat: Be mindful of what you are putting in your body. Most of dieting is just keeping track of what you eat, when you eat, and how much you eat. Create a meal plan for the week so when you are in a hurry, you don’t mindlessly grab snacks. Be sure to eat breakfast. This meal wakes you up and gets the metabolism going, and cut back on portion sizes. If you’re unsure about how to create a new diet plan, hire a health coach. Not only have 90% of people been satisfied with the experience of consulting with someone, they help you stay accountable and encourage you on your way to healthier living.
Emotional Well-Being
It’s easy to get caught up on the physical aspects of taking care of yourself, but be mindful of the emotional side as well. Your self-spring cleaning should incorporate ways to improve your emotional well-being.
Improving this aspect of your life means taking the time for you. Find what you love to do in life and make sure you are doing it. Find ways to express your emotions in a positive way and incorporate activities to help you reduce stress. One way to do this is by gardening. It requires light physical activity and time to spend outdoors with nature. According to the U.S. home and garden market, gardening as been growing in popularity since 2018. It is a way to connect with the Earth, pause to appreciate life, and grow healthy foods you have access to in your own backyard.
Get to It!
Spring is here so don’t waste the time to start cleansing yourself. Embrace who you are and make the changes you feel necessary. Start with a check-in to evaluate what you need. Keep your physical health tuned up and exercise regularly. Make a change in diet if the occasion arises and attend to your emotional well-being. Be the best person you can be and embrace the springtime air!
