Spring Forward: Time to Emerge From Hibernation

Mar 14, 2023

People are interesting creatures!

While we have the intelligence to do amazing things, and many people do incredible tasks every day, we are also very basic in our routines and animal like in our behaviors.

When the cold days and long nights of winter are here, we pretty much hibernate just like bears, right? We cozy up our homes, stock up on firewood, pack the pantry with warm winter foods, add a few heavy blankets to the bed and brace ourselves to survive the winter months.

The last few years, with the pandemic, and lockdowns, and isolations, it’s been more prevalent than ever … and for many this has been a very difficult time. Don’t even get me started on my homeschooling nightmares. But that feeling of cabin fever gets real in a hurry when you are living 24/7 with  your family and you can’t go outside easily or without anxiety.  

Winter often causes people to gain weight, we get musty from all that sitting around binging on Netflix and for many motivation drops to new lows.

But the great news is that as we move toward April, Spring is finally here!

I don’t know about you but, I love spring!

The smell of first cut spring grass, the promise of warmer days ahead and longer evenings, sunsets by the beach and healthy summer picnics … it makes me want to jump out of bed, open the windows and breathe in that fresh spring air.

Spring is the time when we, just like the bears, emerge from our hibernation, we look forward to new beginnings and opportunities. The birds and bees are busy making their nests and new growth is abundantly clear everywhere you look.

Why am I, your ND, talking about spring? Because it is time for all of us to emerge from our dens, clean out our winter supplies, shed those extra pounds and embrace life and all it has to offer this spring.

My patient, Julie shared her spring routine and I thought it was a great idea! On the first day of spring every year, Julie takes a picture of herself and compares it to a picture she took back in Fall. She sits down and makes a list of goals including all the changes she wants to make for her health, and jobs to do around the house in April to get ready for a great energy filled spring and summer. She says, her spring makeover motivates her to want to achieve more and do more every year. She says she prefers setting goals in Spring rather than on January 1st because she feels there is more chance she’ll do everything with the promise of summer ahead.

Here’s the five things I suggest you consider “cleaning or refreshing” as we move into Spring:

1.  Your Pantry – Throw away the winter comfort food and replace it with healthy options

2.  Your Wardrobe (depending on your climate) – Go buy some bright fresh colorful spring clothes that will put a smile on your face

3.  Your Routine – Don’t put on your winter robe and wait to shower later, jump out of bed and go straight to the shower, throw open your windows and breathe the spring air first thing in the morning

4.  Your home – De-clutter! Make room for spring!

5.  YOU! Do a Cleanse and Detox to flush your system and boost your energy – you will be amazed how great you will feel!

If you want more help with a detox and diet refresh, be sure to give us a call!