The arrival of spring has long been associated with a sense of rebirth and renewal. I love seeing the new leaf buds on the trees, the early spring flowers poking their heads up out of the ground, hearing the birds are singing with gusto and feeling the gentle warmth of the sun on my skin. It’s the promise of what is to come.
Growing up in the UK I remember how the first day of spring is celebrated at Stonehenge. Druids and pagans come together to watch the sunrise while drinking a beverage made with dandelion and burdock. (Which I hasten to add is not my favourite drink, but not being a druid or pagan it’s never been an issue.)
Here in Perth and the South West of Western Australia, First Nations people celebrate six seasons in the year. The Whadjuk Noongar people of Perth have their first spring Djilba between August and September. Their second spring Kambarang runs from October through November.
Taking a cue from nature.
While spring cleaning has never been top of my spring to-do list, I do enjoy the feeling of revitalised energy, the desire to take on new projects and activate the desired changes I wish to see in my life, health and work.
Spring is the great reminder that no matter how harsh our winter has been, now is the time to start afresh and reconnect to what matters the most to you. What will you be doing, where will you be going, what dreams and goals do you aspire to achieve?
Nature follows its own timeline, so if we can learn to let go of always being living and working at a furious pace, it’s easier to find greater balance, develop greater patience and remain flexible and adaptive in our rapidly changing world.
Spending time in nature in spring replenishes my well of gratitude for the world around us and reminds me how much we can learn from the changing seasons.
Five things we learn from Spring’s arrival.
1. We can always start again.
If you’ve been feeling a bit run down, super stressed and questioning why you’re still doing those things that feel a chore and a bore, spending time outdoors and seeing Spring in action restores hope and optimism that you can always start anew.
2. It’s a great time to de-stress.
Studies have shown that 15-20 minutes a day spent outside in a green or blue space works to lower stress, lowers blood pressure and reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression as well as lowering your risk of developing heart disease or other chronic disease.
Better still, you don’t have to do anything specific in that time. Simply sitting, watching, and enjoying the natural sights and sounds is all that’s required for nature to weave its magical spell.
3. Embrace the season of green.
Winter can be moody, cool and wet, so the arrival of spring with trees adorned in their new cloaks of leaves, is a powerful motivator to start getting outside.
The colour green is associated with feeling calm, safe and at peace. Which explains why we use green in our homes and offices to create a sense of freshness. Soft greens are soothing. Vibrant greens are more energising. Which type of green are you most drawn to?
4. It’s time to create.
Longer days and warmer weather encourage us to get outside, perfect for unleashing our imagination and coming up with some brilliant new ideas. Gaining a new perspective starts by uncoupling from your hyper focus at work, allowing your mind to relax into what’s called soft fascination.
Spending time in a natural green or blue space, especially one with greater biodiversity has been shown to calm the mind of all those distracting thoughts and worries, freeing up space for fresh inspiration and insights. You can think of spring as the perfect time to declutter your mind.
5. Put a spring in your step.
Time outside whether walking, hiking or just taking in the scenery does wonders for your overall well-being. Early morning sunlight helps to reset your body clock, so you sleep better. Sunlight also stimulates the production of vitamin D, vital to bone, muscle and cognitive health as well as triggering the release of serotonin, the neurotransmitter associated with feeling calm and content. All is well with the world! Breathing in fresh air and all those lovely phytocides produced by trees and vegetation work to clear your mind and strengthen your immune system.
Spring has sprung here in the Southern Hemisphere. How will you be celebrating the change in season to boost your own health and wellbeing?
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