Live Well this Coming Spring.
Taking time to care for yourself provides fuel for your mind, body, and spirit. without it, you can’t experience overall well-being. Self-care is like preventive car maintenance: Without it, you won’t run as well, go as far, or last as long. Self-care is important in reducing physical and mental illness, and when seasons change, it is normal to feel a bit sluggish and fatigued. The lack of sunshine, vitamins, exercise, and the long dark hours all contribute to the depletion of our energy levels at the end of winter and that is why it is important to allow yourself to hit that reset button and spring into action by implementing various self-care measures for yourself and while you’re at it encourage your family to join in too.
Create a healthy morning routine
The morning is one of the most important parts of the day because it sets the tone for how it will go.
Incorporate healthy habits into your morning routine to begin your day with intention and productivity such as having a nutritional breakfast and incorporating a stress-relief activity like exercise.
Get moving, sit less
Get at least 150 minutes of moderate- intensity physical activity every week. That could mean 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Do muscle-strengthening activities 2
days a week.
Soak up the sun
Research has shown that spending time outdoors helps reduce stress and anxiety and can help manage symptoms of depression. This time can be as simple as taking your dog on a walk, hiking, taking pictures of nature or the city, or working in your garden. Make it a goal to spend at least 10 minutes in nature each day this spring.
Spend quality time together
It’s important to spend time together as a family every day doing something everyone enjoys, such as cooking or listening to music. You can also connect with other family members, friends and neighbours with phone calls, text messages and video chats.
Eat the colours of the rainbow
Eat more fruit, vegetables, lean protein and whole grains. Eating healthfully will help you and your family take care of your physical health and have energy for the day ahead. A review published in Nutrients in January 2020 found that getting adequate fruits and vegetables (five servings per day) was associated with reduced depressive symptoms and distress and higher levels of optimism and self-efficacy. Why not mix things up on your next grocery run and stock up on produce that is in season. This is a great way to save on your budget and still pack in the nutrients.
Consider growing a plant
For people who consider themselves gardeners, nothing beats spring’s opportunity for getting seeds in the ground and getting your hands dirty. Even if you wouldn’t know a pumpkin seed from a tulip, there is plenty to be gained by nurturing a small plant of your own. Outdoor gardening gives you access to more sunlight and can be a great form of physical movement. Even houseplants are associated with decreased anxiety, there is likely something evolutionarily comforting about being connected to nature. It can be thrilling to watch a flower, veggie, or fruit grow out of seemingly nothing. So, why not make this the year where you try to grow something, anything at all.
So as the seasons change it is time for you to bloom into wellness and make self-care a priority.
Dates to Remember
9 August – National Women’s Day
19 August – World Humanitarian Day