Somehow in the middle of all of the bad, frightening and confusing news about Covid-19, mother nature has been able to give us hope – better known as Spring. Spring is a time of rebirth & renewal. Even the name implies movement forward. Spring is an assault on our senses and I love it! The bright colors of flowers, leaves returning, the sound of bees and birds, the sweet fragrant smell in the air, sunlight that warms your skin and the taste of spring produce we’ve all waited for.
Spring is a time when flowers bloom, trees get leaves, baby animals appear, migrating birds return and the days grow longer and warmer. There is actually scientific evidence that Spring can help with our mental and physical health. In 2017, a UK study found that the more birds people could see in their neighborhoods, the better their mental health. As mentioned, many animals share their babies in the Spring. One small study in 2012 found that when college students looked at cute images of baby animals, they were better at focusing on a task in the lab. Kind of explains why all the animal videos on line are so popular. Who doesn’t love to see a baby chick or fluffy squirrel? There are more scientific examples here from mentalfloss.com.
As for your physical health you can do yourself a big favor by sitting in the sun and soaking up some vitamin D. Doctors say you only need 10-30 minutes mid-day several times a week to maintain healthy blood levels. People with darker skin may need a little more than this. Vitamin D plays a significant role in the regulation of calcium and maintenance of phosphorus levels in the blood which help you to maintain healthy bones. Vitamin D also allows the intestines to stimulate and absorb calcium and reclaim calcium that the kidneys would otherwise excrete. Aside from all of the medical benefits it just feels good to have your skin warmed by the sun and to hear the birds chirp. Be sure to wear sunscreen when you sit outside.
Spring also brings natures first vegetables. Crisp lettuces, earthy morels, asparagus, spring onions, rhubarb, fresh peas and green beans all become available. If your able to get these on your next trip to the store they will help you to maintain a balanced and healthy diet.
The moderate temperatures of Spring allow us all to get more exercise in the fresh air. A record number of people are walking and riding bikes during this lockdown. There are so many people getting outside that new rules for social distancing are having to be enforced and National Parks and beaches have had to close to control the traffic. If your lucky enough to have access to a place to walk, get out there. Just be sure to practice social distancing. Not sure what the social distancing walking and running rules are? Check them out here from treehugger.com .
With all of this rebirth and stimulation, it’s no doubt that studies show people are more creative in the Spring. Spring brings more daylight which triggers more energy and the release of serotonin which makes us feel happier. Try to take advantage of this positive energy by re-engaging with an old creative hobby or taking on something new. The desire to create is everywhere – just check out TikTok and other postings. One specific example is with music. Right now, there are a record number of people learning to play musical instruments. Around the world people are turning to music to create a sense of community and belonging. Read more here from wereform about people playing music and singing from their balconies. So create to your hearts content, you have the time.
How ironic that on the day they published the staggering number of deaths per day per city I stepped out onto my patio to get some air and saw the Pink Spring Moon hovering in the sky. It’s the largest moon of the year, glowing and hanging over us. Somehow I felt Mother Nature was telling us all “I got you”.
Gentle Reminders: If you liked this type of content and want to see more, scroll to the top of the page, enter your email in the right hand column, and click “subscribe.” To share with friends, use the social sharing icons below.
