Oh, hello...I almost didn’t see you there huddled in the dark under a pile of soft, cozy blankets. I guess it’s that time of year where the snow is melting, the birds are chirping, and you decide to come out of winter hibernation!
Transitioning can be a slow process considering that we just spent the last 5-6 months in habits that had us moving at a leisurely pace. Now that we have exhausted our Netflix accounts from bingeing on cold winter days, it’s time to step out of those blankets and step up to some healthier practices.
Include Breakfast:
The darkness of winter had you pressing the snooze button a few too many times, which left no time for breakfast. Well, since the sun is peaking out earlier it’s time to break that habit! Always start your day with foods that will energize you and set you up for the rest of the day to come!
Lighten things up by adding more greens:
The sluggish feeling that comes with winter had you eating all of those hefty comfort foods – dense potato stews, heavy pasta and warm creamy soups, but it is time to take advantage of the new energy and life that spring has to offer. Start to include more greens; spinach, kale, collard greens, beet greens, dandelion greens etc. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, green is the colour of springtime and the Liver organ; so eating greens can help to improve your liver’s functioning and flow of Qi putting a spring in your step![i]
Soups are still a good idea:
During this time of transition from winter to spring, we are still susceptible to getting sick.Considering that the majority of our immune system is in our intestines, soups made with homemade bone broth (rather than heavy cream) and all of its vitamins and minerals are beneficial for healing and building up our immune systems[ii]. Making your own is so simple and cost effective; there are a lot of great recipes on the Internet, here is a simple one to follow, and feel free to even add those greens that were mentioned above!
Get moving:
Exercise and movement should be a part of your daily routine. Whether it’s running, walking, yoga, weight training, do something that will get you going, because anything is better than sitting all day! Make sure you sweat each day in order to let out those toxins that have been building up all winter.
Get outside:
Take advantage of the fact that the days are getting longer. Take your exercise outside and get some fresh air and sunshine. We have spent a lot of our time in stuffy buildings all winter; it’s time for some fresh oxygen!
Think positive thoughts:
It is likely that you have had the same negative thoughts running through your mind for the last couple of months i.e. “when is winter going to be over?, “it’s too cold”, “I hate that the sun isn’t out” etc., which can ultimately cause your body to feel listless. Our daily thoughts can contribute to either a negative or a positive mood regardless of the environment we are in.So why not turn those negative thoughts into positive ones or partake in activities that make us happy; exercise, creative hobbies, spending time with friends or whatever will get you thinking and feeling happy!
So what do you say!? Leave your old winter habits behind and bloom into a healthier version of yourself! Good luck on your transition into spring!
If you liked these tips, be sure to sign up for my monthly newsletter where I share many more health and wellness ideas!
References:
[i] Kaptchuk, T.J. (200) The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese medicine. McGraw Hill, New York, NY.
[ii] http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/12/16/bone-broth-benefits.aspx
Transitioning can be a slow process considering that we just spent the last 5-6 months in habits that had us moving at a leisurely pace. Now that we have exhausted our Netflix accounts from bingeing on cold winter days, it’s time to step out of those blankets and step up to some healthier practices.
Include Breakfast:
The darkness of winter had you pressing the snooze button a few too many times, which left no time for breakfast. Well, since the sun is peaking out earlier it’s time to break that habit! Always start your day with foods that will energize you and set you up for the rest of the day to come!
Lighten things up by adding more greens:
The sluggish feeling that comes with winter had you eating all of those hefty comfort foods – dense potato stews, heavy pasta and warm creamy soups, but it is time to take advantage of the new energy and life that spring has to offer. Start to include more greens; spinach, kale, collard greens, beet greens, dandelion greens etc. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, green is the colour of springtime and the Liver organ; so eating greens can help to improve your liver’s functioning and flow of Qi putting a spring in your step![i]
Soups are still a good idea:
During this time of transition from winter to spring, we are still susceptible to getting sick.Considering that the majority of our immune system is in our intestines, soups made with homemade bone broth (rather than heavy cream) and all of its vitamins and minerals are beneficial for healing and building up our immune systems[ii]. Making your own is so simple and cost effective; there are a lot of great recipes on the Internet, here is a simple one to follow, and feel free to even add those greens that were mentioned above!
Get moving:
Exercise and movement should be a part of your daily routine. Whether it’s running, walking, yoga, weight training, do something that will get you going, because anything is better than sitting all day! Make sure you sweat each day in order to let out those toxins that have been building up all winter.
Get outside:
Take advantage of the fact that the days are getting longer. Take your exercise outside and get some fresh air and sunshine. We have spent a lot of our time in stuffy buildings all winter; it’s time for some fresh oxygen!
Think positive thoughts:
It is likely that you have had the same negative thoughts running through your mind for the last couple of months i.e. “when is winter going to be over?, “it’s too cold”, “I hate that the sun isn’t out” etc., which can ultimately cause your body to feel listless. Our daily thoughts can contribute to either a negative or a positive mood regardless of the environment we are in.So why not turn those negative thoughts into positive ones or partake in activities that make us happy; exercise, creative hobbies, spending time with friends or whatever will get you thinking and feeling happy!
So what do you say!? Leave your old winter habits behind and bloom into a healthier version of yourself! Good luck on your transition into spring!
If you liked these tips, be sure to sign up for my monthly newsletter where I share many more health and wellness ideas!
References:
[i] Kaptchuk, T.J. (200) The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese medicine. McGraw Hill, New York, NY.
[ii] http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/12/16/bone-broth-benefits.aspx
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