“Spring Forward” Wellness Ideas to Plan Into Your Year

If you live in the U.S., you know that twice a year, we have to either set our clocks forwards or backwards in an effort to keep some sunshine in most of our daytime hours. In the fall, we gain an hour, and in the spring, sadly, we lose one.

Like many I know, I favor the “fall backward” part of the year more than I do the “spring forward” part. And, the reason is obvious. As a working mom who has a second, part-time job during the spring, I do not enjoy losing any sleep, even one hour’s worth. And in the days that follow, I often feel jet lagged.

It’s always a good idea look for the positives in things we cannot change.

We don’t really get a choice over whether we lose or gain an hour. So, not surprisingly, there are a lot of ideas out there about how to make the best of the time change. The most common ones involve seasonal household reminders. You may have heard of some of these.

Some common ones are listed in this Good Housekeeping article where they recommend using the time change to prompt you to do some seasonal chores, which include checking the batteries in smoke detectors, flipping mattresses, washing pillows, restocking the medicine cabinet or kitchen pantry, cleaning your fridge’s coils (yikes! I hadn’t heard of this one- does everyone do this?), vacuuming out your dryer’s vent and ducts (I do know to do this- but rarely do 😬 ), replacing or cleaning filters around your house, cleaning the oven, and checking your emergency kit.

Our bodies and minds require as much, if not more, care and maintenance as our homes.

So, while it’s a great idea to get some seasonal home maintenance items crossed off our lists, I feel like I addressed some of these during the Emily Ley Simplicity Challenge, as a I wrote in this post. And, while a lot of these are a great idea, they require us to do a good bit of work for our homes.

Since we are putting all that energy into our homes, and that energy is, let’s face it, going to be at our own expense (time, planning, and physical effort), I wonder if maybe we shouldn’t also be investing as much effort into giving our wellness routines a reboot a couple of times a year. Doing so could be both a reward for caring for our homes and a reminder that our bodies and minds require just as much care and maintenance.

Taking care of ourselves in big ways.

Last week’s post was about self-care ideas— 15 things we can do regularly to make sure that we are decompressing, de-stressing, and showing ourselves love and care. They were little ideas, and most of them were inexpensive.

With the first of two time changes for the year upon us, I thought it would be fitting to think about making some self-care and wellness grand gestures for ourselves. These suggestions will be bigger and sometimes a bit more expensive. But, they do not have to take place all at once. (Just like I hope we are not expected to do all those home maintenance tasks at one time).

Making more significant wellness and self-care plans for ourselves.

When it comes to taking care of ourselves, we need to think about the ways we need to be cared for- our bodies, minds, and spirits. This is sort of a self-care trifecta, and each person (not just women) should be thinking about ways to nurture these parts of themselves.

Love yourself: body, mind, and soul

Below are some reminders to plan out caring for all aspects of ourselves- our bodies, our minds, and our spirits.

Body

A few years ago, I attended a mental health session at a continuing legal education seminar that encouraged us to take care of ourselves. They recommended this amazing book, titled “Next Year Younger,” and the authors had just come out with the women’s version of the book, which I highly recommend all adult women read, regardless of their age. (#Ad)

This book basically explained that we do not age just because we are getting older, but because we stop moving and caring for ourselves. Neglecting our bodies is like neglecting a car. It will die out sooner from lack of use than by getting it out of the driveway occasionally.

There are several things we can do to make sure we are keeping our bodies going as long as possible. Here are a few ideas:

• Get moving. A couple of times a year, ask yourself, are you getting the kind of movement that’s right for your body? Whether you exercise or not, it’s always a good idea to see if you could be doing something more or different for your body. If you don’t regularly exercise, see if you can carve out a few minutes each day to talk a walk. If you are already doing some sort of cardio make sure you’re not in a cardio rut and perhaps cross train with a different type (for example, if you cycle, try walking, running, or swimming, and vice veresa). And, if you’re not already doing so, see if you can add some form of strength training. All of these are ways to -make sure that your body is getting what it needs to stay fit and healthy.
• See your doctor. If you don’t get an annual physical each year, it’s time to start. An annual physical is a great way to make sure that you are doing well and figuring out whether there are any changes you need to make.
  • Although every doctor does them differently, the basic annual physical appointment will usually involve the following: taking your vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, respiration) taking your health history and seeing if anything has changed, checking your reflexes, and looking over your skin to make sure there are no unusual growths. Your doctor will also check to make sure your general appearance is healthy and will check your heart, lungs, eyes, throat, mouth, neck, and glands.
  • A physical should also include ordering a complete blood panel to make sure that everything from your blood cell counts to your cholesterol levels are within normal ranges. Although some people feel that doctors look for reasons to find illnesses, I’ve found that if you have yearly physicals, it keeps me from having to go to the doctor for things that, had I let them go, may have grown into a bigger problem later.
• Get recommended screenings. This goes hand in hand with seeing your doctor for annual checkups. I know people who have had cancer diagnoses caught early, which provides better results and odds. And most of these friends have had the illness caught thanks to some sort of screening. For women, this means asking your doctor at what age you should be having mammograms, colonoscopies, pap smears, and other types of screenings.
  • Give your doctor a full family history- it’s possible that if a particular disease runs in your family, you may need to have the screenings done earlier than the typical age they recommend.
  • Again, these appointments are not meant to find things wrong with you. Usually, health screenings give you peace of mind when they confirm you are healthy. But, if they do find something, detecting it early may mean the difference between a long, drawn-out illness, and a faster treatment with a better rate of success.
• The dentist. Although some people make a dental visit an annual thing, it’s best to go twice a year to have your teeth checked and cleaned. Luckily, we no longer need annual x-rays, and thanks to new imaging technology, they’ve actually made the process less uncomfortable even for people with tiny mouths, like me. I recommend going every 6 months. While you’re at your appointment, just make another 6 months out. Although the appointments are not the most fun, you should walk out with pretty, polished teeth and (just like when you were a little kid) a new toothbrush!

Mind

Your brain is an organ that needs to be exercised as much as your body does. In addition to eating a healthy diet and getting physical activity (which makes sure your brain is nourished and has the proper blood flow going to it), there are ways to keep your mind sharp.

• Brain exercises. Google this. I’m impressed with how many brain games and exercises you can find online, but I’m not surprised. With so many people suffering from dementia, Alzheimer’s, or other progressive memory-impairing conditions, folks want to make sure they are keeping their brains in shape. That said, you don’t need to do Sudoku puzzles every day to foster a sharp mind. Neurologists also recommend trying new activities as the process of learning can help the brain develop new connections. I mentioned this in a prior post about hobbies, but it bears repeating- keep trying new things. Whether it’s a hobby or a different route to work, the extra effort your brain makes to learn something new will help keep it healthy.
• Interact with other people. We are so busy. We make very little for ourselves, let alone time to hang out with friends or family. But, perhaps find a way to plan in a night or weekend where you do have some face time with a real person (maybe use FaceTime and video chat with someone?). When we interact with others, our body sends blood and electrical impulses to different parts of the brain that simply don’t light up when we are scrolling through our Instagram or Facebook feeds.
• Read something. There is a reason pediatricians encourage us to read to babies- it promotes brain function and development! But, as we get older, we sometimes feel like reading is a hobby we don’t have time to fit into our busy schedules. The thing is, reading is another great way to work out your mind, and it has been shown to combat mental conditions such as Alzheimer’s. It is both mentally stimulating and decreases overall stress- a truly helpful combination! I make it a point to read daily and now find that I cannot go to sleep unless I’ve spent some time reading. See how you can work this into your schedule. There are no right or wrong books or magazines to read as long as you find what you’re reading interesting. Or, join a book club so you can get the motivation to read and the social interaction that also helps the mind!

Soul

This is a broad category that I think is important to your self-care and well-being. At the end of the day, caring for your soul involves doing things that bring you peace and joy. Last week’s post touched on some simple ways to do this, but while we’re looking at more big-picture activities and routines, there are some things that can bring you both peace and joy in a meaningful way!

• Pray, meditate, worship. Whatever your religious background, taking time for silence and reflection has been shown to decrease stress and help us focus. If you are religious, connecting with your higher power (God, creator, whatever you call this) will nourish your spirit and help put things in your life into perspective. If you are feeling like you need a spiritual reboot or are not involved in a religious organization but want to be, this may be a good time to think about where you would like to attend services. Ask your friends about their places of worship. Go and visit a few services at different locations. You will know you are in the right place for you. It will just feel like home.
• Reconnect with friends and family. Whether you go to a movie with a friend, out to lunch, or just for coffee, connecting with people is an important part of self-care. Humans are social creatures, and we do not thrive in isolation (just read about the psychological damage done to prisoners kept in solitary confinement). Check your calendar and see if there’s a day or evening you can get together with someone and make some plans.
• Get away. Whether this is a day trip to the beach, a weekend retreat, or a full vacation, get out of the house and go somewhere that makes you happy. Spend time filling your senses with the things you love about that place- the smells, sights, sounds, and people that help you feel rejuvenated just by being there. We sometimes need to feel joy elsewhere to appreciate what we are coming home to.
• Write out a bucket list. You’ve probably already done this- exploring the Galapagos, seeing the Great Pyramids (wait, that’s my bucket list 😉). But, this time, don’t just include the big stuff. Make sure you have small bucket list items. These can be checking out that historical site you pass on the way to work every day or visiting the winery located a couple of counties away. Perhaps it’s taking your daughter for her first manicure with you or teaching your son how to treat a lady on a date. Of course, you should list some big stuff, but make sure to include things that are so doable, you might just add one to your planner for next month.
• Sign up for a spa treatment you don’t normally get. Whether you rarely get a massage, pedicure, manicure, or facial, plan to save up for and schedule something that you think will be relaxing for you. If you can, try to do this at a day spa. Although they’re a bit cliché and pricey, I do think they do a good job of creating an overall relaxing experience through the music and scents they pipe into every warmly lit room. Groupon and Living Social frequently run specials for these places, so check them out and see if you can take some time for yourself.
• Do nothing. This one may be my favorite. How run down are you feeling right now? Are you sleep-deprived and stressed out? Sometimes taking a mental health day for yourself is the best way to recharge so you can have more energy later. Now, a mental health day is not just a day at home without work or kids. You also need to make the day about caring for just you, so no vacuuming or doing any of those “spring forward” seasonal household tasks. Use this day to sleep, take a bubble bath, stretch, exercise, read—whatever will help you refuel your spirit.

Plan it out

As with everything that we need to be doing for ourselves, they will slip our minds and will not be a priority unless we keep up with them in some way. As usual, my best advice is to schedule your wellness activities in a planner.

Of course, these activities and reminders can simply be placed in whatever planner you use to keep up with your usual appointments. Some folks have planners with multiple sections to keep track of various areas of their lives, including wellness, fitness, medical issues, etc. For those, I recommend a planner designed to have pages taken out and moved around.

That said, if you want to focus on one area of wellness over the next few months and carefully track how you’re doing, there are planners for any need. Here are some suggestions:

–A disc-bound Happy Planner is great for this. The pages stay in really well, and can be easily removed and placed back in as needed. Here is a general one (#Ad):

-The Happy Planner makes a really cool Wellness Planner that basically helps track body, soul and mind self-care habits and routines. (#Ad)

– If you already have a happy planner, there is a Wellness Extension Pack that you can use to add a wellness section to your happy planner. (#Ad)

-The Happy Planner also has a Fitness Planner that is custom-made to track fitness goals and keep up with food intake, exercise, and other fitness habits. (#Ad)

-Happy Planner also has a Fitness Extension Ppack so you can incorporate a fitness section into your Happy Planner (#Ad)

As I mentioned in a prior post, a Traveler’s Notebook is another good option, as you can assign a different type of wellness activity to each section. (#Ad)

And, read my prior post on assembling a Faith Planner for ideas on how to put together a planner to help keep up with faith and spiritual practices. The Happy Planner also has a Faith Planner. (#Ad)

Finally, a Binder Planner is very easily customized to hold any sort of hole-punched papers. They come in various sizes, but I think smaller ones are easier to carry around and bring to appointments. (#Ad)

In the same way twice-yearly time changes can be used to remind us about seasonal household maintenance, we can use this year’s “spring forward” to remind ourselves about the personal maintenance it takes to become and stay healthy. Making times for these activities and planning them into your year will help you stay on top of stress and give you something to look forward to.

Instead of focusing on that lost hour of sleep, use this weekend, and even this month, to brainstorm some ideas to care for yourself, body, mind, and soul. Have a suggestion that might help someone else? Leave a comment!

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**Image credits- magazine, massage, journal, book, and bath images found on Pixabay.