I don’t know about anyone else but this last Winter seems to have lasted forever. I’m not one to wish time away. Heck, I usually really enjoy Winter and at the tail end of 2021, I did. But January and February of this year have been two of the most miserable months I can remember experiencing. And the weather definitely played it’s part in that. That’s why I want to talk about Spring activities for mental health in this post.
Of course I’m not blaming my depression entirely on the weather but on the very few and far between days of sun and double digit temperatures we experienced throughout February, I felt my mood lift. Even just a little bit. And anyone with depression, low mood, Seasonal Affective Disorder, anxiety or most mental illness will tell you, that 2% lift of your mood can mean everything some days.
So I’ve been excited to March to roll around. March always feels like a more positive and bright month. The first of the whole year, really. And a small part of me feels a little less hopeless about everything when I turn that calendar over on March 1st.
March is *sort of* the start of Spring. Perhaps not legitimately but I think in most of our minds, March is when we start to think about flowers blossoming, the start of brighter weather, Spring cleaning, new life and just, well, hope. At least that’s what I think anyway.
So given my mood and mental health has been down the freaking toilet these last few months, I really want to try and prioritize some wholesome and meaningful activities into my weekly agenda this Spring. I want to start incorporating things to make me more present, more mindful and hopefully feel a bit calmer and more at ease with myself.
So for the purpose of that goal, I’ve collated a little list here of Spring activities for mental health. Of course these can be done any time of year, I’m not daft but I think they will be particularly beneficial around this time of year – especially after the last couple of years we’ve all had.
Here are 7 Spring activities for mental health:
Going for regular walks
I do this anyway but I definitely find when my mood is low, I can sometimes slack on the walks. But I love walking and since I’ve been working with my fitness coach online, I’ve prioritized getting more steps in each day. Nicer weather ALWAYS makes me want to go out for walks, so this is one of the nice easy Spring activities for mental health.
Related read: 4 Ways Walking Can Benefit Mental Health
Take up gardening (even just a little bit)
Look, I’m no gardener. But I think most people, given the right tools can at least do a BIT of gardening. Even if that’s just planting some bulbs or taking up some weeds. I love flowers and I live 5 minutes from a B&Q, so gardening is definitely something I want to try and do more of this Spring. Read Lisa’s Notebook for loads of incredible informative gardening content.
Baking sweet treats
I think baking is a wonderful activity for Spring because there are so many flavours to experiment with – not to mention Easter. And there are LOTS of fun things you can bake and do with Easter Eggs. Baking can be great for mental health too, as it allows you to focus on one task, be present and also produce something wonderful.
Related reads:
- Best Rocky Road Recipe: Quick, Easy & Delicious
- Cherry and Coconut Cupcake Recipe
- Orange Drizzle Cake Recipe
Yoga (outside if possible)
I don’t need to tell you that I love Yoga. But I love it the absolute most when I can practice it in my garden, in the sunshine, with a gentle breeze and the birds chirping around me. Yoga is a fantastic way to boost your mental health at any time of year but if you get a chance to do it outside, I’d highly recommend it.
Related reads:
- 6 Tips To Help You Maintain a Yoga Practice Whilst Traveling
- 5 Restorative Yoga Practices For Stress Relief
- Yoga Essentials For Beginners: 6 Things To Start Your Journey
Cooking with fresh and seasonal produce
I love cooking and I want to do more of it. But I’d also like to expand my skills and knowledge and start cooking more seasonal recipes, with seasonal produce and perhaps attending farmers markets for that reason. I can imagine that being one of the lovely Spring activities for mental health, which would help you slow down.
Going for an afternoon tea
Nothing screams Spring and Mother’s Day in particular like an afternoon tea, does it? I feel like we don’t really think about afternoon tea throughout Winter – it’s definitely more of a Spring and Summer activity. But I think it can aid our mental health by allowing us to spend some quality time with our loved ones.
Creativity and writing
I want to take this new season and let it help me become more creative. I think when it’s Winter, when it’s dull, when it’s cold and you’re stuck inside, it can be hard to get those creative juices flowing. So this new season of 2022 (and of life) I’m hoping will allow me to come out of the creatively blocked shell.
If you struggle with your mental health in the Winter, it’s so important to remember that this season won’t last forever. Like literally, that’s how seasons work. So do what you gotta do to get through it and remember that there ARE brighter days coming. And when those brighter days arrive, consider some Spring activities for mental health to elevate your mood.