Rediscovering Wellness

Yes, it’s Spring! Maybe you you can already see the changes in your neighborhood (despite those annoying pollens). With that being said, we can spend more time outside. Why? There are many reasons, but these are four great ones that I can come up with so far. In my opinion, the first one says it all. I work in mental health and I cannot imagine how many times therapists, psychiatrists and nurses like me encourage outdoor time especially to clients that need some mood boost. When I saw a therapist for the first time, I was told my Vit D was low and was even recommended Vit D supplements. I thought to myself- no wonder I was so freaking depressed and anxious.

Then again, outdoor time even when you’re extremely happy already can only do you good and make you feel better than before. Besides, you get some tan and I wouldn’t mind having some extra layer of sexy golden tone on my already sexy, caramel-tinted skin.

Ok. Enough about me and my skin that’s swimming in melanin as I like to call it. Here are tiny life changing rewards we can all benefit from stepping outside of our home:

Healthy Sunshine 

Go ahead: do nothing. Just sit outside and absorb the sunshine. Your body will create healthy vitamins to build immunity and improve mood. So if you feel as if sitting still is somehow lazy, just remind yourself that you are creating good physical health as well as a sense of calmness and peace for your day. Meditate. Read a book. Take things slowly for a few minutes (or longer). Be good to yourself. The other stuff in your life can usually wait for a little while. E.g. never ending piles of laundry, leftover food in the kitchen counter, dirty dishes, and so on and so forth.

Energizing Movement 

Spring is a time to get out and get moving. Walking will shake out some of those tense muscles you’ve developed while hibernating on the couch during snowstorms and flu season. Running will get you breathing deeply as you build cardiovascular endurance. Swinging on a swing will let you feel like a kid again. Go to the park, go fishing, or go out with a friend; it all works. Fresh air improves sleep habits. A change of real-life scenery rescues us from those online virtual worlds we sometimes spend too much time in. 

The Joy Of Gardening 

Springtime is the time to plant seeds that will bring results later. You can have a home garden and grow your favorite vegetables. You can start some herbs in planters and move them to the porch when the weather warms up. Have you ever carved your own pumpkin for Halloween? Have you tasted fresh peas from your garden? Planting seeds in the ground can mean planting possibilities in your life. Let me say it again. Planting seeds in the ground can mean planting responsibilities in your life. 🙂 Enjoy the seed catalogs, pick your produce, teach the kids, and build self-reliance. Spring is the time for growth, and this can involve changes within you as well. 

The Abundant Life 

Living a life rich with a variety of outdoor experiences is worth the effort. It doesn’t necessarily require extensive travel, although it can if you want it to. It might include an impromptu luncheon on a friend’s porch. It might include a community class on local landmarks. Perhaps a road trip or even a cruise is in order. The goal is to get outside, connect with others, and enjoy new experiences. What you do is up to you. Spring just makes it that much better. 

So there! I hope you are excited to go outside the door and get moving. And if you do…let me know of any other life changing rewards you received.

Love and light 😊