Spring is the season of dusting off the winter, throwing open the windows to let in the fresh sun-soaked breeze flood through the room, taking up the fresh canvas that is your year, and watercoloring it full of your dreams. Wherever you are in the world, in whatever weather, I hope this little compilation of ideas inspires you to come awake with spring.
This morning rain is drizzling outside my window and my raspberry bag of tea is steeping in my cup. I only have an hour or so before I need to head to the library and begin wading through sources for my research paper, but I wanted to take a minute to sit down and share a few thoughts.
This new season is just around the corner and already I am finding myself aching to feel rays of sunshine on my skin, for earlier mornings and later nights, for the smell of freshly mowed grass and blossoming wildflowers. The English department hall, my favorite building on campus, is already blossoming with wisteria. With spring on its way, here are my top five tips for how to lighten and cleanse your life to prepare for it.
- Start with journaling: Pull out your favorite little notebook. Let your thoughts untangle themselves in stream-of-consciousness writing. Write a list of your spring essentials. It’s been three months since the planning festivities of January — look back at your goals for the year. How much progress have you made? What needs to be adjusted? Do you have any new projects you’re working on or plans for the coming months? After you make whatever lists and diagrams you want, let yourself dream of spring and make a moodboard by pasting images together on a spread.
- Clean space makes for a clean mind: Grab your sheets in a giant bundle and toss them into the washer. Wipe down surfaces, tidy things up, clean the speckles on the mirror, vacuum the floor, declutter and donate a bag to the thrift store. When you’re done, make your bed in full and fluff your pillows. Imagine that you’re letting your furniture breathe: on the soonest sunny day, open the windows and let fresh air flood inside. Surround your space with plants and growing things.
- Get some sunshine: Get outdoors and get moving! Do pilates on your back porch (or open the window and let the breeze freshen the house), go on runs in the cool air of dawn before it gets warm, and go on weekend hikes with your friends. At night, do a relaxing stretch session while you watch your favorite tv show.
- Eat light: You know that whole green smoothie and yoga lifestyle you’ve always wanted to try? This is the season. Start cleansing for summertime by eating more plants. Think salads, smoothies, juices, bowls of freshly sliced fruit, nourish bowls, and comforting broth soups full of vegetables. Start weeding out all the heavier foods from your pantry — when you eat light, you’ll feel lighter too.
- Curate your wardrobe: Pull out all the heavy sweaters and scarves and coats and tuck them away in your closet. Simplify. Refresh your wardrobe by arranging all of your clothes to rise to the right (from dark to light).
Spring is a time of reawakening from your dream of winter and coming alive to the sunshine of life. Maybe it doesn’t feel like it yet, but spring is on its way — let’s make space for it!
Keep up the good work — in school, in work, in life. You’re doing your best and that’s what matters, and there are so many fresh beautiful possibilities ahead of you. I’m excited for the season of sunshine. Are you?
<3 Olivia Grace
