As the morning breaks, I’m noticing the light breaking through the curtains. It feels like we’re beginning to emerge from winter into spring. It’s not easy is it, when met with grey and rainy days, to believe that brighter days are ahead, but I think they are!
As the length of the day stretches out and we wake to these brighter mornings, I’ve begun to look out of the kitchen window, waiting for the morning kettle, and noticed the odd crocus in the garden, the wild primrose growing under the bench, the buds beginning to swell on the gnarly hazel tree outside the window. The world is coming back to life. As you emerge from your winter, the grey, gloomy days begin to pass, what new life can you feel emerging as you begin to enter a brighter, more hopeful time of year?
I love the spring. I love those new early signs of life. I love the first glimpses of colour in the garden, on paths and in hedgerows around us. As we enjoy our wellbeing walks or our adventure walks through the nearby woodlands, it’s glorious to feel the sunshine on our faces and see new life bursting around us.
How does spring make you feel? Are you waking in the mornings embracing the lengthening days? Are you feeling more determined in your intentions than you were at New Year? Do you find it easier to do what you say you’re going to do when you’ve literally got ‘spring’ in your step?!
It’s well documented spending time outside helps us to top up our vitamin D levels. Vitamin D is important for strong bones, a healthy respiratory system and good mood and energy levels amongst other things. Just 20 minutes in the daylight, not even strong sunshine, is enough to help our bodies produce the necessary amounts of vitamin D. This in turn, along with the endorphins produced to help us feel good after moving our body, is at the heart of the green wellbeing I believe in so much. Spending time outside is scientifically proven to improve mental health and the quality of our sleep, both of which have significant impacts on our personal wellbeing.
As the days lengthen, perhaps we also re-engage with our social circles. Whilst some of us enjoy winter nights tucked up in our houses with family and friends, this isn’t the case for everyone, and winter can be a long and lonely season. Perhaps spring as a time to reconnect with the world outside. How much more likely are you to get out and about with people as the weather improves, the days get longer and life takes on a sunnier, brighter feel?
Now I do appreciate we live in the UK. There is absolutely no guarantee that spring is a permanently bright and sunny time! Let’s face it we do live in the land of April showers! However, even the slightest moments of the sunshine peeping through, the snowdrops, the crocuses, even the bobbing heads of bursting daffodils cannot fail to bring a smile to most faces.
So as spring bursts I encourage you to look outside, get outside if you’re able, and begin to feel the sunshine on your face.