The Spring that Never Came
It has been a LONG winter.
Welcome to springtime in Minnesota, when we all feel a bit stir crazy from being stuck inside for so many months. It’s supposed to be warmer by now! Why do we live here? Will it ever get warm again? These are all questions that we ask ourselves. Here are my top ten tips to survive this time of year until it feels like spring outside.
Focus on the positive. I was able to take my dog for a walk in the freezing wind before it started to rain on us. That’s somewhat positive, right? In all seriousness, it is important to find the positives in your day and look on the bright side, even if those are harder to find. At dinner each night, we say our highs and lows for the day. What will your high be for today? Was it a phone call with a friend to catch up, a moment of quiet in a hectic day, or finally finishing that giant load of laundry? Whatever it may be, find something positive each day to reflect on. Can’t find something, do something now to create it.
Get your body moving. Exercise helps our mind and our body. Getting outside in the fresh air will help even more. Find whatever you enjoy doing and make the time to fit it into your day. Take a walk, listen to a podcast while you clean, or run around with your kids. Making the time to move will not be time wasted.
Get some rest. Use the time inside to rest and restore your body. Take that nap that you never allow yourself to take. Lay and read your favorite book or watch your favorite program. It’s okay to take time to relax.
Use the time inside to better yourself or your home. I like to watch a good organizing show on Netflix to get motivated and clean out my house. Removing unwanted things makes you feel lighter and brighter. Nothing makes me feel more at ease than a good, organized home. I get overwhelmed easily, so I take things on in small chunks. I do a drawer at a time or closet. Nothing says spring, like spring cleaning! Don’t feel like cleaning, make an appointment to get your haircut or get your nails done. Organize your schedule or get some meal planning and prepping out of the way. Why not head into summer with a clean house and a happy you.
Do what brings you joy. What makes you happy? Play some happy music, make a happy playlist and share it with others. Make a painting, write in a journal, and do some yoga. What makes you forget all about the time and want to continue it for as long as possible? Find those things and do more of them!
Socialize with friends and family. We don’t always feel like going out when the weather is bad but are usually happy that we did. Socializing is an important part of being human and a lot of us have been missing this during the pandemic. Now feels like a good time to reunite with old friends and catch up with family that you haven’t seen in a while.
Throw in fun surprises for yourself or your family. How can you add a little spark of magic to your day? Create some wonder? In my homeschool year, I learned about a concept called strewing. It’s conveniently leaving items in places where they might be discovered and explored. You might try leaving some new library books on the couch. Set the table with some craft supplies or leave a board game out on the counter. I’ve never tried this with my husband, but he loves to cook, so I just might have to leave a favorite cookbook open to wonderful new recipes to try ;) You could also do a Malt Monday or dessert before dinner night, anything outside of the routine that adds a little bit of the unexpected is sure to bring a smile to the whole family’s day.
Read The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder. This might seem a little obscure but it has been working for me this season. I read to my kids before they go to bed at night and they have been loving the Little House on the Prairie books. We are on this particular book at the time and it is very fitting for our season. Hearing what it was like to live long ago puts things in perspective. We can relate to their feelings and appreciate the modern amenities we do have. Stories and reading aloud have an important place in our house and they create so many memories and inside jokes for years to come. It is just another way to connect as a family.
Hygge even when you don’t feel like it anymore. Have you heard of the Danish word Hygge? I first heard about it when I read the book, The Little Book of Hygge, The Danish Way to Live Well, by Meik Wiking. Hygge means noun
a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being (regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture).
I think of cuddling up with a good book by the fire, having some warm tea, and connecting with loved ones. Enjoy the last of the cozy days inside because soon it will be too nice to come indoors!
All’s well that ends well. May 1st is around the corner and I love to surprise all the neighbors with May Day baskets, a tradition I used to do with my mom as a child. Let’s focus on the good things to come. Soon, this winter/spring will be long behind us as we enjoy our time outdoors on the patio or at the baseball games. We certainly appreciate and notice the seasons living here in Minnesota. I’d like to hold onto all those feelings of appreciation as we step into the next season, knowing that we take the bad to appreciate the good.
How do the seasons affect your wellness? I’d love to hear your strategies for staying sane during trying seasonal weather.
