Welcome to a brand-new season – spring. The air is fresh and beginning to warm up, the evenings are longer, and the sun is up when the alarm goes off in the morning. A feeling of new beginnings is unmistakably in the air. But with new beginnings, we need to say goodbye to the old in order to fully embrace the new.
‘Ne’er cast a clout ‘til May is oot,’
The weather might be fine, but there is still a chill in the air and keeping wrapped up a bit longer is probably a good idea. No one wants to feel ill when the weather is nice outside. I’m still taking my vitamins, at least for the next few weeks, in hope that they’ll ward off any underlying bugs I might be exposed to. But nothing can beat the feeling of saying goodbye, albeit temporarily, to our winter wardrobe. Packing away coats, jumpers and boots is a ritual I enjoy because I know that come the autumn, I will be re-discovering hidden treasures and favourite outfits.
With saying goodbye to the winter warmers, we also get to say a fond hello to our warmer weather clothes. I love the brighter colours of my spring and summer wardrobe, it just cheers me up after the long, dull winter.
There feels like so much to look forward to as we enter spring, but in order to make space for new things in our lives it’s important to clear out the things that no longer serve us. In some cases, this can mean physical objects, but it can also apply to thought patterns, habits and even relationships that are no longer serving our higher purposes.
Spring Cleaning
I love to take some time in spring to get my physical world in order. Starting by making lists of all the things I need/want to do I then need to put in the time, effort and hard work. This week I’ll be starting to get my house cleaned and tidied. Changing curtains, sorting through cupboards and donating unwanted items to charity shops. It’s a big job, but the feeling of a fresh start makes it all worthwhile.
Since Jackson came to stay with me, I’ve been making the switch to ‘dog friendly’ cleaning products. Out with the Dettol and in with the natural cleansers. This way I know that my cleaning frenzy won’t cause my puppy any harm.
Clearing the mind
It’s not just my home environment that gets the spring treatment I need to take a look inwards at my mind and body. My mind works overtime. Anyone who knows me understands that I don’t slow down, can’t switch off and that I am constantly working on something (or feeling guilty that I’m not working on something!) This does not bode well for a restful and calm mind, with the consequences being disrupted sleep and feeling pretty rubbishy during the days that follow. I know that this is an issue for me, so I make time each day to meditate, practice mindfulness and get myself out of my thoughts and into my physical sensations.
Working through a body scan, starting at the toes, is a brilliant way to get out of my own head and begin to tune in to how the rest of me is feeling. But as with everything else it’s making time to fit this in which can be challenging. That’s where the lighter mornings really come into their own, waking up when it’s light outside makes me feel like I have extra time to fit in all the things I know will make me feel good.
Change of mindset
Spring is an ideal time to give yourself a break. I can be a little obsessed with perfection at times and am constantly working hard to accept that good enough is indeed good enough. By changing my mindset, I can spend less time worrying about the imperfections around me and more time enjoying all that life has to offer. So, as we head into spring, how do you prepare for the new season? What do you need to let go of in order to move forwards with strength and confidence?
Yoga by Gillian 