The magic of spring breathes fresh life into the landscapes of our lives. I know, we love the green grass. We love budding trees. We all smile to see daffodils pushing their way to the surface and dancing in the breeze, but consider the less obvious ways spring affects us. We spring ahead for Daylight Savings Time. We feel a spring in our step on balmy days. We spring into action cleaning up flower beds. Just remember that spring cleaning is more than sweeping away those corner cobwebs.
This is a great time to learn something new, to be something more. Here are five ways to be a fresher, more vibrant person than you were in the doldrums of winter.
Design a new flower bed. Whether you have a window box or a shady spot in your front yard, find plants to brighten your view. You can obtain cuttings or transplants from friends paring back plants for bushier growth. You can buy a small groundcover and watch it spread. You can pop for an eye-catching display of color or invest in the future by planting a perennial. If you invest in new growth, you may enjoy it for months to come.
Learn a new skill set. When we are nestled under afghans and ensconced in a favorite chair, the world outside our four walls feels less real. But this month we are awakened to new possibilities. Whether we are learning the ins and outs of reporting on the portal or picking up anew language, this is a great time to burst our borders by embracing something new. Harvard studies cite brain plasticity as a beacon for our brains with spurts of electrical impulses lighting up our minds. Be intentional. Choose something new to explore and dig in! The benefits outlast the season.
Pick up a few Marie Kondo vibes. Don’t be this person! Personally, I find her a little extreme. I mean, her limit on books is what I stack on just my beside table. I cannot even contemplate purging my bookshelves…but I am refreshed by learning how to organize my drawers more efficiently. This video gave me joy, lol. There’s no reason our homes need to look like the next episode of Hoarders, and when you tidy up a room, you’ll feel the benefits in other parts of your life. It turns out that spring cleaning is good for the soul.
Explore new greens. I’m not talking about the many hues of chartreuse to mint, but about the literal ingestion of healthy salads. Scroll through Pinterest and find new salads. Learn to love kale…here’s a hint…wilt it in bacon and it takes on a whole new persona. Find some bok choy at the market and whip up a batch for dinner. Eating green benefits your pocketbook as well as your health.
Blue line your calendar. This is the perfect month to look at your calendar and add a seasonal bucket mix to the status quo. I love the magic of assembling a list of possibilities, and it’s especially helpful when all those delicious ideas actually get penned into your planner. Summer heat can make us feel sluggish, but by planning a holiday now, you can beat the ennui that robs us of new experiences. The dictates of a planned trip help us transcend the season into fresh experiences and new joys all summer long. All it takes is some imagination, a pen and your calendar. Fill a few blank squares with the promise of joy to come and let spring truly put some spring into your step.
It’s March and the season of new possibilities is upon us. Spring into action!
