New Season, New Mindset

Spring has sprung, and this new beginning with new growth all around us is a perfect time for you to get into a new mindset. You can start a new healthy routine, or add some mindfulness practices to your day. Or, you can start spending more time outside now that days are getting warmer.

The warmer weather makes me feel like I am coming alive again, as the world wakes from its long winter's nap. I love the spring with the warm weather and all the plants starting to grow!

If you garden in the summer, this is a great time to start thinking about what kind of plants you want to buy this year. Depending on where you live though, there may still be snow (as is expected for us in Germany next week) so you may want to hold off on your flower purchases until the first week of May, when it typically stops snowing in most places.

However, if you live in a warmer climate, you may already be getting started with your yard or garden projects. This is a great way to get outside and get some fresh air and sunshine. Both of these are good for your mind, body and spirit.

Benefits of getting outdoors

Spending time outdoors does wonders for your health, especially if you are taking walks, going biking, or some other kind of outdoor activity.

According to Mind UK, some benefits of getting outdoors are:

• improve your mood

• reduce feelings of stress or anger

• help you take time out and feel more relaxed

• improve your physical health

• improve your confidence and self-esteem

• help you be more active

• help you meet and get to know new people

• connect you to your local community

• reduce loneliness

• help you feel more connected to nature

• provide peer support.

These benefits for your physical, mental and social health are all great reasons to spend time outdoors. You also get a healthy dose of vitamin D from the sun, which can serve to improve your mood as well.

According to the Forest Service,

Studies also show that being outside in nature is relaxing, reducing our stress, cortisol levels, muscle tension and heart rates – all of which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

In addition to these benefits, you can also feel more spiritually connected when you spend time in nature. It can help you practice mindfulness, and connect with yourself and the world around you. Being outdoors always helps me to feel more mindfully present in my day.

You can do an outdoor mindfulness meditation, or simply spend some time being present in the moment and enjoying exactly what you are doing when you are outside.

Adding an simple outdoor walk or some time in the garden is a great way to connect back to nature, to yourself, and to improve your health.

I hope that you all have a wonderful Spring, and find some time to get outdoors to help improve your mindset and your life!