By: Hana Dawood

March is here. The sun is setting later; the grass is getting greener and the air feels a bit fresher. Spring is coming and with that familiar urge to reset begins to set in. Spring resets bring us a sense of new beginnings and maybe permission to throw away bad habits we picked up throughout the winter. Here are some ways to start your spring health reset and build healthy habits without guilt.

1. Daily Movement

 Now that the temperatures are rising and the weather is finally getting warmer, what better time to get yourself some movement. If you don’t currently exercise every day, spring isn’t a reason to go from 0 to 100. Habits don’t form overnight.  When building habits it is important to remember that consistency is more important than anything. To fit some daily movement into your schedule, start off with walking outside for 10 minutes. Week by week you can increase the amount of time to walk. And if there are days where you can’t meet your daily goal, always try to get some type of movement even if it’s for a little bit. It is important to remind yourself that some exercise is better than no exercise. And before you know it, the habit of moving your body will be something you carry throughout all seasons.

2. Proper Diet

Spring is a great opportunity to improve your diet. Having a well-balanced diet influences more than you think including stress, sleep, energy levels, etc.  Eating a healthy diet is a common goal we should all strive for. Before you cut out all sugar and carbs, remember to make small changes and then as you move forward, you can adjust your goals. For example, if your goal is to increase your vegetable intake. You can start by eating half a cup of vegetables with one meal. As you get used to the idea of doing that, you can increase how much vegetables you want with each meal. With diet especially, it’s important to avoid an all or nothing mindset. It’s best to remind yourself that moderation is key. Now, your spring health reset has you feeling better than ever!

3. Quality Sleep

Sleep is important for memory, emotional regulation and even weight management. Most of us have had the experience of staying up too late and not feeling our best the following day. This highlights the importance of sleep hygiene. Sleep hygiene is one of the most underrated health habits to keep in mind. Winding down an hour before going to sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your bedtime routine. It’s often easier said than done to put your phone away an hour before shut eye, so start smaller. Start with putting your phone away 30 minutes before and then working from there. In this case, replacing your old habits with better ones is just as important. Replace scrolling with things like reading, journaling, meditating, etc. 

This spring, think of your reset as a return to yourself. With the right pace and consistency, you’ll build habits that make you feel stronger, clearer, and more like your best self, without guilt attached.