Inhale. Exhale. The warm breeze gently caresses your chapped winter cheeks and lips, as you deeply breathe in air that doesn’t freeze the inside of your nose. The air has a smell of freshness, and the trees are beginning to form new buds. Flowers start to bloom, and you begin to remember again how miraculous nature is. Some days in spring may even allow you to walk the earth with bare feet, feeling energized by the vibrations of Mother Nature as well as all the living things that share the energy of the woods. It’s spring. A time of growth, a time of change, a time of creation, and a time of love is when we appreciate the dandelions, and find joy in touching the tall blades of grass with intention. Allowing the sun to warm your face, and feeling alive in the fullness of daylight is one of the most ultimately fulfilling parts of springtime. I awaken to birds singing outside my window, and I smile at the reminder that I can hear them. Spring is coming, and I am loving every second of it.
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Many people annually engage in spring cleaning – whether it be in their homes, in their workplace, in their cars, etc. While spring is a great time to reorganize what may have become messy in the hustle and bustle of daily life, it is also an essential time to declutter our minds, our bodies, and our hearts. By this time, the majority of people have either given up on their New Year’s resolution, completely forgotten about it, or fulfilled it. So why can’t spring be a time to re-invent and improve ourselves? As the seasons change, maybe we should adapt too (within reason). And since no one is perfect, I feel that the oncoming spring feelings are ideal for harnessing a lust for life that may have become muddy in the hectic daily schedule of an average college student.
With a jam-packed “To Do” list and countless responsibilities, it is easy to get lost in the whirlwind of life and not take care of our body like we should. So, I invite you this spring to engage in some internal spring cleaning…I promise your body will thank you. Here are some tips on how exactly to go about this (and by the way – some things may be challenging. That’s okay – it’s how we evolve).
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SLEEP ENOUGH
If you regularly get 5-6 hours of sleep, and navigate life with a daily cup of caffeine, you are seriously doing your body a disservice. Healthy adults need 7-8 hours of sleep PER NIGHT to properly function. Just because you’re body is “used to it” does not mean you won’t be suffering in the long term. Sleep is a time for our body to rejuvenate and our brain to consolidate all the information we have accumulated throughout the day. Insufficient sleep can result in increased risk of cardiovascular disease, as well as an increased risk of depression and lower sex drive among other things. Proper sleep hygiene will help you maintain focus, be more productive during the work day, and overall feel happier and healthier.
Like I said, this may not be easy for you, so I recommend adding 20 more minutes to a half hour of sleep per night until you reach 7-8 hours.
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PRACTICE MINDFULNESS/UNPLUG
I may sound like a broken record, but this is such a necessary life skill to ultimately be happy, and this skill cannot be gained overnight. The beginning of spring is a great time to practice mindfulness because our senses are already heightened due to all the changes in our regular environment. When you’re walking to class, take those earphones out, and listen to the birds, or the train in the distance, and feel the wind and what it feels like to walk with your own feet. Be grateful that you can utilize your senses, because not everyone can, and often those people self-report higher levels of happiness than those more fortunate than them.
Stop staring at your phone every second. Stand up straight and when you’re walking, put your phone away, and observe life around you. You won’t be missing anything too important, I promise. There is potential for something exciting every moment, and you’re probably missing it because your eyes are glued to social media. You can implement “unplugging” little by little by gradually lessening your screen time each day. You will not regret it.
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PAY MIND TO WHAT’S ON YOUR PLATE
In college, sometimes making time to eat can be inconvenient, and so you end up grazing throughout the day, or picking up fast food so you can study longer. STOP DOING THIS! You only have one body, and your body is your home, so treat it well. Be sure to incorporate lots if fruits and vegetables, and have balanced meals. Keep snacks with you to avoid starving yourself and then pigging out on something greasy and high in saturated fats. Make time to sit down and eat without rushing. This is hard in college, I know. There have been plenty of times that I have eaten my meals on a bus ride from one campus to another, which is not ideal, but I try not to rush and make sure to squeeze in proper meals so I can focus throughout my day. Plan ahead. Leave a little earlier so you can enjoy a meal before attending something that requires a lot of time. There are always healthy options available – it is up to you and only you to respect your body and put only the best into it. When engaging in a healthy lifestyle, you will feel more energized and able to be the best version of yourself. In time, this will become second nature, and when you try to “cheat” or eat unhealthy garbage, your body will literally reject it. That’s when you know you are treating your body well!
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OPEN YOUR HEART
You may have some resentfulness towards people in your life who have wronged you in some way or even mistreated you at some point. Of course, anger and pain don’t just disappear because we want it to – but when making a conscious effort to try to let go of the past, it does become easier each day to let go little by little of some sour memories and unfair life experiences. The most important part, and the most difficult aspect, is to forgive the individual who did you harm and wish them well. You may be thinking, “Hell no Susie, I hate them and can’t wait for karma to bite them in the ass.” But this is simply a waste of your valuable energy that you could be putting towards countless other aspects of your life. Letting go is tough and can take weeks, months, or even years, as it has for me in some of my life experiences. But let me tell you, there is nothing more satisfying than being able to reflect inwards and truly feel deep down that you have forgiven an individual and really do wish them well in life. It is an entirely freeing, almost magical experience. You have the power to react to people and circumstances and no one has the power to make you “feel” a certain way, unless you give them this power. You hold the key to your heart, no one else does. So make an intention to open your heart this spring, and let go of the old in order to make some room for new, and wonderful life experiences. This is your life!!!
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So with that, I invite you to start a new beginning by spring cleaning your body, mind, and heart, as well as your car, house, etc. if you feel called to. I wish you the best, and I know you are capable of improving your life and preparing for the best and most healthy spring.
Xo, Susie
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