Flowers are blooming, birds are nesting, the sun is shining and the days warming as the Earth breathes a deep sigh and Spring bursts forth.

As we finally bid Winter farewell Spring is blossoming, an exuberant reminder of abundance, growth and the promise of new beginnings. We’re ready to shrug off winter, stretch and expand our energy up and outwards.

Spring is a time of transformation and growth; a time to renew your energy and change your life. As the days warm and lengthen through Spring, you’ll start to feel lighter, both emotionally and physically.

Adopting these practices will leave you feeling your best and at the peak of Spring Wellness. Make them a part of your daily ritual to launch your momentum and rise to your fullest summer potential.

AWAKEN

Get outside. Let your inner child out to play, socialise and have fun. The sun is up earlier and staying around later. Join him and get outside to watch the dawn. Even if you wake grumpy give yourself the opportunity to get out, feel the earth under your feet and soak in all the benefits of grounding.

MOVE

Don’t let restlessness irritate you during Spring. Instead use it to kick-start your exercise program.

Spring is a great time to overhaul, or begin, your exercise routine. Walk, join a dance class, take up yoga or tai chi, join a hiking group or cricket team. Honour your body by not overdoing it and remember to keep hydrated or you’ll become fatigued very quickly.

RELEASE

If you want to bring the new into your life you must make space for it. Whether it’s a new spring wardrobe, new habits or new thought patterns, if you want to create a new you, you need to de-clutter first. The first step is to release everything that no longer serves you.

With the arrival of Spring our thoughts turn to Spring cleaning, and that also goes for our mindset. Spring offers a great opportunity to clear the mind and get rid of thoughts that undermine our self-esteem or are toxic to relationships. Once you clear out old toxic thought patterns you can start planting positivity seeds to create a life you love.

EAT

As we move out of winter’s chill we need to change our diet. The heavy, salty foods of winter put a strain on your liver, which is sensitive and can quickly become imbalanced during spring. Your liver is the main detoxifier in your body, so it needs some TLC during spring. Cut back on alcohol, fats, oil and particularly junk food.

Sour foods like vinegar, lemons, limes and grapefruit stimulate the liver. An excellent practice for Spring wellness is drinking lemon or lime water in the morning.

Bitter foods cleanse the liver and are essential for Spring health. Bitter foods include dandelion greens, radicchio, rapini, endive, kale, rocket (aragula), rye, chamomile, unsweetened cocoa, daikon, and even nettles. A salad of mixed leaves can easily include many bitter herbs.

Replace heavy winter foods with light, quickly-cooked ingredients.

FRIENDSHIP

With the warming weather and longer days, Spring is a great time to reconnect with your support network.

Friends who really listen to you and have your back when the going gets rough are essential for wellness. Having someone you really trust who will hold the space for you to download, discuss, or even rant if you need, helps you stay on top of stress and overwhelm as life gets busier.

SLEEP

Most people don’t get enough sleep without even realising. Some are ‘tired-but-wired’ which makes sleep difficult. For others the messages from the brain that they need sleep are lost because after chronic sleep-shortage their internal sensing system no longer recognises the signal.

Adults need between seven and eight hours sleep every night. Binge sleeping on the weekend doesn’t compensate for lost sleep during the week, or the other way around.

Research has shown sleep quality is directly connected to what you eat through the day. Increasing high fibre foods in the diet was linked to more restorative sleep.

If worry is keeping you awake introduce some strategies to reduce the stress. Crucially, don’t sleep with your cell phone right beside you, and stop using it at least thirty minutes before bedtime.

If your bedroom does not support good sleep use this guide to make changes.

STRESS

Spring is the perfect time to set the intention to manage your stress more effectively.

As we move through Spring towards the end of the year life gets busier and busier. It’s easy to roll along juggling all the balls until you drown in overwhelm without ever realising it’s happening. Don’t end up burnt out by year end.

While planning is important, de-stress techniques are just as important to get on top of your stress and stay there. Use these excellent strategies to reduce and manage the effect of stress on your mind and body in the busy days up to the end of the year.

When you want to bring the new into your life you have to make space for it. Whether it’s a new Spring wardrobe, new habits or new thought patterns, if you want to create a new you, you need to de-clutter first. For it to become a new habit the first step is to release everything that no longer serves you.

Spring offers a great opportunity to clear our mindset and get rid of thoughts that undermine our self-esteem or are toxic to relationships. Once you clear out toxic thought patterns you can start planting positivity seeds to create a life you love.

Challenge yourself. When old attitudes and thought patterns arise again, try seeing things from a different perspective. Start by watching and noticing whenever you run those same old stories about yourself.

Notice whenever you criticise yourself, when you tell yourself you’re stupid, or ugly, or fat, or any other negative put-downs. Then call it out for what it is. Remember it is not the ‘true you’ thinking this. Remind yourself of your true value, that you’re smart, lovable, beautiful, or whatever applies.

Imagine the ‘negative voice’ in your head as an actual person or character. (I used to think of it as the ‘Control Committee’.) Then replace that negative character with a loving, supportive, friendly character or committee who always has your back. Whenever the negative, judgemental character spits out criticism say to yourself “I see you. You are not the true me.” Then turn to the second loving character for positive, encouraging reinforcement.

Once you call out the limiting beliefs you’ll find they start to run less frequently and hold less potency to undermine you. Reclaim your power with awareness, simply by watching, witnessing and naming.

UPLIFT SPIRIT

While everyone needs time to zone-out, use the energy of Spring to change HOW you recharge.

Instead of crashing in front of reality TV, get smarter. Use the building momentum of this time of new beginnings to read uplifting books, listen to music that benefits your soul, or take an aromatherapy bath. Zone-out for good health and Spring Wellness.

With all the fresh new routines and rituals you’re welcoming into your life be sure to maintain balance. Put a spring in your step, not a drive to the fast lane. Be mindful. Listen to your body. Open to new opportunities. Eat slowly. Live in awareness.

Disclaimer

All information and opinions presented here are for information only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice offered during a consultation. Please consult with your health care provider before trying treatment suggested on this site.

© Catherine Bullard and Happy Holistic Health, 2012. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Catherine Bullard and Happy Holistic Health with appropriate and specific direction to the original content