Spend More Time Outdoors in the Spring

Believe it or not, Spring is coming! Perhaps you can already see the changes in your 
neighborhood. Some of us aren't as lucky. However, all of us can start making our 
Spring plans now. We can spend more time outside this Spring and experience life-
changing rewards. 
 
Healthy Sunshine 
 
Go ahead: do nothing. Just sit outside and absorb the sunshine. Your body will create 
healthy vitamins to build immunity and improve mood. So if you feel as if sitting still is 
somehow lazy, just remind yourself that you are creating good physical health as well 
as a sense of calmness and peace for your day. Meditate. Read a book. Take things 
slowly for a few minutes (or longer). Be good to yourself. The other stuff in your life can 
usually wait for a little while. 
 
Energizing Exercise 
 
Spring is a time to get out and get moving. Walking will shake out some of those tense 
muscles you've developed while hibernating on the couch during snowstorms and flu 
season. Running will get you breathing deeply as you build cardiovascular endurance. 
Swinging on a swing will let you feel like a kid again. Go to the park, go fishing, or go 
out with a friend; it all works. Fresh air improves sleep habits. A change of real-life 
scenery rescues us from those online virtual worlds we sometimes spend too much time 
in. 
 
The Joy Of Gardening 
 
Springtime is the time to plant seeds that will bring results later. You can have a home 
garden and grow your favorite vegetables. You can start some herbs in planters and 
move them to the porch when the weather warms up. Have you ever carved your own 
pumpkin for Halloween? Have you tasted fresh peas from your garden? Planting seeds 
in the ground can mean planting possibilities in your life. Enjoy the seed catalogs, pick 
your produce, teach the kids, and build self-reliance. Spring is the time for growth, and 
this can involve changes within you as well. 
 
The Abundant Life 
 
Living a life rich with a variety of outdoor experiences is worth the effort. It doesn't 
necessarily require extensive travel, although it can if you want it to. It might include an 
impromptu luncheon on a friend's porch. It might include a community class on local 
landmarks. Perhaps a road trip or even a cruise is in order. The goal is to get outside, 
connect with others, and enjoy new experiences. What you do is up to you. Spring just 
makes it that much better. 
