Many cultures around the world have a practice of rejuvenation in the Spring.
Eating lighter, planning and working on mindset have been part of Ayurveda and Chinese medicine for thousands of years.
Spring is a great opportunity to “clean-up unhealthy winter habits and initiate fresh thinking and motivation to feel fresh, focused and energetic daily.
What happens over winter?
During the short dark days of winter, many individuals experience loss of energy and motivation, leaving them feeling tired and uninspired. It can be challenging to keep up with exercise when staying in bed often feels a lot more inviting.
And now research has indicated that there is a natural tendency to eat more in winter, indulging in comfort foods to keep warm.
This change in food habits, drop in physical activity levels, and indulging in “feel-good “desserts can take its toll on the waistline and affect eating habits.
Let’s explore some short, simple ways to kick-off healthy physical and mental habits for Spring.
Always begin slowly….
Step One: Spring clean the kitchen
De-cluttering the pantry and fridge and transitioning to healthier options is the best place to start.
Here are some tips:
- Discard accumulated unhealthy foods – if it’s not in the house the temptation isn’t there.
- Fill it up with freshness – like beautiful coloured fruits and veggies.
Step Two: Increase intake of plant-based foods
Here are some tips:
- Focus on eating fresh seasonal produce.
- Stock up on fresh fruit and vegetables (these are great mental health boosters).
- Try to include fresh veggies and fruit in every meal and snack.
- Sub vegetables for some of the ingredients in recipes (for example have zucchini pasta rather than wheat pasta.
Step Three: Get organised
Convenience eating is common when life gets busy and often leads to poor food choices. Invest the time to get organised and follow a few simple, healthy practices weekly.
- Create a shopping list for the week.
- Plan meals.
- Find some new and exciting spring recipes.
- Prepare healthy snacks to eliminate having to make decisions when feeling tired.
Step Four: Spring into action
Exercise is great for regulating brain chemicals like dopamine and serotonin that control mood, cravings and appetite.
Ease into an exercise routine, doing too much too fast, after the winter hibernation, can increase the chances of injury and dampen motivation.
Here are some tips:
- Find an enjoyable activity.
- Decide on the frequency and time for exercise.
- Schedule in the calendar as non-negotiable, like an appointment.
- Start spending more time outdoors and top up on vitamin D.
- Stretch daily it’s a great stress reliever.
And lastly, take it all in, start moving forward slowly, and enjoy the experience of transitioning into spring feeling healthier and happier.
To fire up motivation, try and answer this question: What would be the first step to take, that would fire up motivation to kick-off healthy habits for spring?
As Luther Burbank said, “Don’t wait for someone to bring you flowers. Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul.”
Irena Geller, Emotional Eating Coach, irenageller.com.au
