With the arrival of each season, we have an opportunity to pause and contemplate the past few months. It can be quite easy for days to blend into weeks into months and this is how we find an entire year slips by too quickly. I would like to suggest you take some time at the start of this season (and each season this year) to acknowledge the change that's happening.
When we take time for reflection, our lives can have more meaning and be filled with more purpose as we celebrate the achievements and milestones of the past three months. We can also seize the opportunity to bring focus to the next few months ahead.
So around the vernal equinox on 21 March, when we experience the first day and night of equal length since autumn, why not set aside some time to look at how your year has started. I like to do this with a warm cup of herbal tea in hand at the start of a new day. I perch in a quiet, comfy place and take stock of my annual resolutions, quarterly goals and daily intentions. I like to examine what I’m making progress on, what needs more attention and what needs to be revised or released.
While the arrival of spring provides this opportunity for pause, it is also synonymous with cleaning. You may already be planning your spring clean or you might be looking at "cleaning" in other ways, perhaps through diet alteration and activity change.
Spring cleaning allows us to inject fresh air and new life into our homes, which have been sealed up all winter to keep us warm. Maybe this is the time of year you flip your mattress, clean your oven and check your smoke alarm. Or perhaps you’ve been thinking about cleaning out your closets. No doubt that Japanese book on tidying can help inspire you, if you need. I’ve been thinking a lot about creating a capsule wardrobe. Perhaps this spring will be when I finally commit.
With milder days, I begin to crave lighter meals. Suddenly my winter recipes don’t appeal. Ayurvedic teachings tell us our diet should change significantly when new seasonal foods arrive. Here’s a guide for spring, if you want to learn more.
Longer days and warmer temps also make it easier to pursue outdoor activities. This is the time when another boxset bing on the couch doesn't look quite so desirable. Rather you find yourself ringing a friend to enjoy a walk outside, hopefully in sunshine!
All of these activities change our regular routine and bring renewed energy to our bodies. This also helps us get ready (and excited) for the new season.
With all of the joys of spring, including new leaves and flowers popping up all over, though, you may be dreading the same itchy eyes and runny nose that I know I will be having soon. While I have traditionally resorted to anti-histamines to combat symptoms, this year I’ll be using essential oils and nasal rinsing to bring me relief.
Essential oils such as peppermint, lemon, lavender and eucalyptus are known for their cleansing properties. I will keep the first three on hand to diffuse in my home, cleaning the air of pollens and allergens. Eucalyptus is fantastic to restore free breathing. I love a few drops in a hot morning shower. Combining with the steam, it really opens up my airways. I also like to mix it with a bit of coconut oil and apply it to my neck, chest and soles of my feet just before bed. This application allows the oil to be inhaled as well as absorbed through the skin.
Nasal rinsing is another option I use to help keep my airways free of irritants. This Ayurvedic tradition uses a lukewarm saline solution to rinse your nasal cavity. While you might do this using a neti pot, I personally find it easier to use a squeeze bottle, although standing over a sink is still imperative.
Yep, I know. This sounds horrible, but trust me it is very effective to improve breathing, clear blocked noses and relieve sinus pressure. My brother has long been a fan of this daily activity and when I saw my 3-year-old nephew performing his own rinse, I found the courage to try it and have been a fan ever since.
So those are my thoughts about spring. What are you looking forward to?