5 Ways to Boost Your Mental Health This Spring
As daylight savings time takes hold and spring approaches, many people feel a sense of optimism and renewal. More light and warmer weather result in more time outside, which is a breath of fresh air after the cold, dark days of winter. These changes often result in higher energy levels and more motivation to start fresh and “spring clean.” While it can be satisfying to clean out your closet or start a new exercise routine, spring is also a great time to focus on your mental health. Here are five ways to boost your mental health this spring.
- Reprioritize sleep. As daylight lasts longer into the evening, it can be tempting to go to bed later than usual. While being outdoors is good for you and as much as your increased energy might make you feel like you don’t need as much sleep, the reality is that most of us still aren’t getting enough (quality) sleep. So, nourish yourself in a way that will allow you to grow and have new adventures this spring by recommitting to a reasonable bedtime.
- Change up your visual life. Just as the weather becomes nicer, you may be hit with the urge to buy new clothes, paint your bedroom, or clean up your backyard. Why not harness this urge in a way that benefits your mental health? Change up your visual life such rearranging furniture or trying a different hairstyle. This bit of novelty can help improve your cognitive flexibility as you try things that you’ve never tried before and create new mental pathways.
- Connect socially. Now is the time to nudge yourself out of your winter cocoon. Social support is important to our emotional health. The joy, laughter, and stress relief you feel when you’re around good friends can increase your mental wellness.
- Consider growing a plant. For people who are gardeners, spring offers the opportunity to get your hands dirty planting seasonal flowers and fruits and vegetables. But even for people who wouldn’t know a daisy from a tulip, there are many benefits of nurturing a small plant of your own. Outdoor gardening is a great way to relieve stress and soak up the sun’s rays. Even caring for a houseplant can decrease anxiety. Feeling connected to nature, in whatever form, can be comforting.
- Make a new creative goal. To lower stress, improve cognitive flexibility and increase your sense of well-being, a goal should not be all about the end process but, instead, the experience itself. Try something that might be interesting or fun, even if you don’t know if you’ll be good at it. From painting a sunset to building a model car to knitting, the point is not that you will create something flawless but rather that the time you spend letting your mind be creative will be valuable in its own right.
While spring is a time of hope and renewal for most people, it can also be a difficult time for others. If you feel yourself struggling with the change in seasons, St. Luke’s Penn Foundation is here to help. Learn more.