How to Take Care of Your Body, Mind, and Soul This Spring
Spring is from March 20 to June 20. This season may signify a new year both astrologically and for Mother Nature, but it's not quite time to enjoy the fruits of your labor just yet. With the energy of a fresh beginning in the air, now is the time to plant seeds for what you want to manifest this fall when the harvest is ready for reaping. The intentions set now have the power to set the tone for the whole year. Be it with your body, relationships, career, or another aspect of life, take a look back at the lessons learned from last winter and couple that with inspired action in order for your goals to see the light of day.
What to Eat and Drink for Good Health During Spring
Liver support is key in the spring. Known for breaking down, balancing, and creating nutrients, a healthy liver makes for good digestion, active metabolism, and adequate storage of vitamins and minerals.
Eat plenty of leafy greens. Spinach, kale, and collards are full of antioxidants that battle free radicals and help heal damaged cells. These foods play an important role in helping the liver detox.
Get your carbs from fruits. While there's nothing wrong with a bowl of oatmeal, spring invites us to enjoy fruits like apples, oranges, strawberries, pomegranates, and guava. These fruits are low in sugar and rich in fiber, so you'll have a boost of energy without your stomach feeling too heavy or full.
Drink more water, coffee, and green tea. A rule of thumb for knowing how much water to drink is to weigh yourself in pounds, divide that number by two, and drink that amount in ounces. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, you'll want to drink 75 ounces or a little over 9 cups of water a day. Coffee can help prevent scar tissue from building up on the liver and can ward off liver disease. Just make sure your cup of joe isn't packed with sugar or other additives. In other words, black is the way to go! Green tea is also supportive as it revs up metabolism and can protect the liver.
Add some fish and chicken to your meals. Healthy sources of protein help the liver do its job more efficiently. Instead of steaks, burgers, and other red meats, enjoy fish and chicken, and lean meat. Plant-based sources of protein include edamame, nuts, lentils, peas, and tofu.
How to Manage Your Self-Care During Spring
Just as what you eat in spring should cater to detoxing the body, the spaces could use a detox of their own. Prioritize spring cleaning by decluttering your home, car, office, and other spaces you occupy — including digital space. Unsubscribe from emails you rarely open. Uninstall apps from your phone that you never use and take a look at your notification settings to make sure you're not being inundated with annoying dings from your phone throughout the day. Even the aesthetics of your wallpaper and how icons are arranged on your phone or computer can trigger certain feelings in the brain and body. Pay attention to how you feel when you open your phone or log on to your computer. If overwhelm, anxiety, or a sense of busyness looms, then it's time to rearrange, remove, and revamp.
Some may believe summer bodies are built in winter, but they're really built in the spring. Winter is a time for rest, relaxation, and restoration. Spring, on the other hand, wants us to get moving. You can start off easy by going for a light jog every day or even walking in place with some light weights while you catch up on your favorite shows. For a more intermediate or advanced option, partake in a 90-day or 6-week challenge that gets your heart rate going. Whichever you choose, create a routine that makes you move for at least 30 minutes a day for 5 days a week to really experience a big difference.
The Zodiac Signs of Spring
Aries is the first sign of spring as well as the astrological new year. During this season, which starts on March 21, consider what drives you and what goals you want to set. This is the time for you to be independent, take charge, reclaim your power, and move forward while also eliminating habits and relationships that hold you back. At the same time, be patient. Remember, this is just the beginning and the results you want to see aren't going to manifest overnight. If you find yourself struggling with patience, anger, or irritability, prioritize practices to help you release in a healthy manner such as exercising, journaling, or seeing a counselor regularly.
Once Taurus season arrives on April 20, you'll start to feel more sensual as all things related to love and beauty become a primary focus. You'll find the energy shifts from powering forward to creating ease and stability by nurturing and protecting the efforts put in so far this spring. Indulge in this energy with grounding practices and by speaking positive affirmations.
On May 21, we enter Gemini season which is all about curiosity, communication, and connection. Learning new things in a more social environment and engaging in discussions or meaningful interactions is ideal as we get ready to transition into summer. At the same time, make sure you're not filling up your calendar with things to do for the sake of having something to do. It's important to still enjoy moments with yourself. Just because you're free doesn't mean you have to be available, especially when it comes to events that you really don't care to attend or people you truly don't vibe with.