Despite the fact that we’re still dealing with some really weird weather patterns, spring is here. For me, the coming of spring brings the sense of needing to clean out my closets, scrub the windows and floors, make the transition to my spring sheets and throw open the curtains to let in as much light as possible.
I revive my health and lifestyle routine as well: assess my vitamins and nutritional supplements, adjust for seasonal issues and change my food planning from soups, stews and “warming” foods to lighter fare. In this month’s newsletter we talk about doing this with a transitional detox that can be supplemented with lifestyle modifications that support an overall healthy detox.
While I make these adjustments, I try to make some behavioral changes as well to make the most of the seasonal transition. Here are some changes I am making in the month of May that you may find helpful.
- Slowing down. Your body is doing big work while you detox or change a daily regimen. Don’t over-schedule yourself; schedule YOURSELF. Put an hour on the calendar that is just your time to do whatever makes you feel good.
- Meditating. Take five or ten minutes every morning to set the day. I find that it is always helpful to have a focal point or theme. For May, I’ll be using gratitude as the overarching theme: gratitude for how my body supports me, for the life lessons it provides, for the love of family and friends, and gratitude at the most fundamental level for being alive.
- Hydrating. Drink water! Shower luxuriously, take a bath, soak your feet, put a hot compress on your neck and then drink more water. Repeat daily.
- Resting. All too often, we keep ourselves going and don’t take time to create a healthy and supportive sleep cycle. Use May to track your sleep and make sure that you are giving yourself enough recovery time. This can be done fairly easily by setting up some simple sleep hygiene rituals—prepping for bed, making sure there are no lights on in your room, perhaps reading some moving passages from a beloved book. If a full night’s sleep evades you, try to supplement with a power nap or rest during the day. We totally undervalue the recuperative powers of rest, and this is a perfect time to recommit to supporting the hard work your body is doing with healing sleep.
- Stretching. Regardless of whether you are a marathoner or a sofa surfer, you need to stretch! Deep slow movements, starting from your head down to your toes, allowing each muscle system to expand. Stretching lubricates your muscles, increases flexibility, opens up range of motion, and creates a feeling of expansion and room in your body. Take a few moments at the start of the day to open up to the potential of what awaits you.
- Tech-ing Off! Take a day off to digitally detox each week. No emails, no social media, no texting. Read a real book. Stepping away from our computers and phones has many benefits, including improved concentration, better sleep patterns, and less anxiety and depression. And an added boon is more time. (Seriously, track how much time each day you are glued to your phone and computer.)
Join me this May, and let me know how you do.
Martha