TEN THINGS TO LOVE ABOUT… SPRING

It’s time for part two of the “Ten Things” series, today focusing on Spring.

I am a Spring baby – born in April – so I feel drawn to this time of year as a time of celebration. Even if, as I get older, I don’t want to celebrate getting older, I do enjoy being able to see the graduate change in the world around me.

In 2020 I am determined to focus on the positives of an ever changing life. Having a chronic illness means that there are fluctuations, and they can happen without warning; you must adapt. And year to year, things do look and feel different. While we can grieve the passing of previous routinely joys – such as a long holiday aboard in the summer or being able to attend all and every festive party – I choose to look to see the good within the ‘bad’ that has come and gone.

Ten things I love about Spring

• Heaps and heaps of sunshine! After all the rainy showers and dull skies of late winter, we can now enjoy the pleasure of sunshine; the warmth on our skin, brightening our temperament.
• Perfect temperatures and more sun hours – Spring comes in between two extreme weather seasons – harsh winter and searing summer. That’s why this gorgeous season brings us the ideal temperatures to pursue cool outdoor adventures and still enjoy comfy evenings curled up in a fluffy blanket. And thanks to the spring equinox, we’re able to enjoy longer days and shorter nights. That’s why spring is a perfect season to start a new hobby or project!
• Flowers everywhere! After the long and grim winter, spring rewards our waiting with dazzling flowers! Starting with early snowdrops, beautiful flowers in blossom are popping up everywhere you go. Also trees have got a fresh green look with its own blooming going on

• Spring cleaning – In this season, everything seems to be waking up, so does your cleaning spirit! With the sun shining, the fresh air flowing in, and the motivation coming into being, cleaning a cherished home becomes a candid pleasure.
• Switching from hot coffee to ice coffee – you might have been having iced coffee during the colder months but now all the coffee houses will be offering their cold drinks and there is something about a cold coffee when the sun is shinning.

• Freshly cut grass – This will never fail to bring me back to childhood, of sitting in the garden and enjoying the games we played and the joy we took in another season coming around.
• Being outside – A 2005 study from the University of Michigan linked spending 30 minutes or more outside in warm, sunny spring weather to higher mood and better memory. But the effect reverses when spring ends, since being outside in the warmest days of summer is usually pretty uncomfortable.

• Creativity – That same study found that spending time outside in the sunny spring weather isn’t just a mood booster, it actually can change the way people think. The researchers found that being outdoors broadened participants’ minds, leaving them more open to new information and creative thoughts.
• Fresh produce is everywhere – Many vegetables and some fruits are harvested in the spring. It’s the season to get your local asparagus, greens, peas, new potatoes, and other fresh produce. Getting more fruits and vegetables into your diet isn’t just good for the body; it’s good for the soul.

• Natural Vitamins – Sunlight triggers your body to produce vitamin D, which keeps your bones strong. At northern latitudes, it’s difficult to get enough sun exposure naturally to maintain healthy vitamin D levels during the winter. But this starts to change during the spring. Something really in need when you have a chronic illness; we are usually deficient in certain vitamins.
• Feeling more positive – After a dreary winter, sunlight is the best remedy. Scientists have proven that sunlight exposure increases your body’s release of serotonin in the brain causing people to be happier. Sunlight also lessens the amount of melatonin in people during the day and increases it at night allowing for a better nights sleep.

What do you love about Spring? Can you find positives from the possible negatives of this time of year?

Do you have any questions or queries? Or just want to share your own experiences?

You can leave me a reply here or leave comments via my social media accounts – on Twitter, find my blog page on Facebook and over on Instagram

If you enjoyed this post check out Ten Things to Love about Winter,  A Pratical Guide to Fatigue and IBD Basics: Prebiotics, Probiotics & Antibiotics