H&W: A FRESH START TO SPRING

If the sunshine, warmer temps, and wild March wind didn’t already alert you that spring is on the horizon, this weekend’s time change is sure to serve as a reminder! [Yeah, we know… it snuck up on us, too.]

There’s a lot to love about spring, it just feels like a fresh start in so many ways, so we rounded up a few of our favorite reminders and fun tips for greeting the season with your best foot forward.

“For some reason, spring always feels almost like a new year to me,” Cheryl said. “That might sound odd, but man, the actual New Year’s Day comes so hot on the tail of holiday intensity! It always feels like a lot to sort out your resolutions and intentions for a whole new year when you’ve still got wrapping paper in the wastebasket. I tend to think of spring as reset, an opportunity to start fresh, and a good time to check in with myself – the sun is out, the days are longer, there’s a lot of optimism in the air.”

We started thinking about some of the ways we like to reset and little ways we like to prepare for the new season so that we are feeling and looking our best. (Note: none of this is revolutionary, but we could always use little reminders!) The number one bit of advice we have is to make your adjustments reasonable and manageable! It’s proven that goals are far more successful when they’re short-term and on a smaller scale – think more in terms of minor benchmarks you can get to on the way toward a major milestone!

HYDRATE – INSIDE & OUT

Especially here in South Texas, spring turns to summer on a dime and those temps can get oppressive in a hurry, so it’s important to keep your body and your skin hydrated as best you can. Try upping your water intake by 1-2 glasses a day (remember: reasonable and manageable!), and make it a point to moisturize every day – you’ll thank yourself for it later.

SERIOUSLY, WEAR YOUR SUNSCREEN.

You already know this – you probably already do it – but it never hurts to be reminded! Whether it’s part of your morning skincare routine or built into your tinted moisturizer, take the extra 10 seconds to slather on some SPF, sister! And PRO TIP: Don’t neglect your neck!

GET OUTSIDE.

This kind of goes hand in hand with what we said above, because you’re going to want to make sure you’re protected from the harmful rays while you’re out there getting your sunshine endorphins and that good Vitamin D. This is a great time to tend to your garden. Plug in that podcast and go for a good walk. Ride your horses, if you’ve got’em! Go to an outdoor concert, stroll through your city’s arboretum, sit in on a spring baseball game. Whatever way suits you, try to spend at least 15-30 minutes outside a day – it’s good for you!

MANAGE YOUR ALLERGIES.

Again, this piggy-backs on the former bullet point, because for a lot of us, springtime means sniffling and sneezing. Time to resume your regimen of antihistamines or whatever your treatment of choice – try to pre-empt the misery!

TRY SOMETHING NEW.

Like Cheryl said, it’s not really a new year, but it’s not a bad time to make a resolution to pick up a new healthy habit. Maybe it’s taking a barre class, maybe it’s learning Mahjong – whether it’s stretching your body or your brain, you won’t regret it.

LIMIT YOUR SCREEN TIME.

We ALL need to do this, ALL year round. Of course, we want you to keep reading your Double Dose, tuning in for Warehouse Wednesday, and engaging in the Double D Addiction group, but you’ll be doing your mental health (and your posture) a favor by putting that phone away a little more. Try not looking at your phone for the first 30 minutes you’re awake, the last 30 minutes before bed, or set aside a “phone-free hour” each day where you put it completely away (like another room, in a drawer, somewhere it would take a conscious effort to get to it).

HELP YOURSELF BY HELPING OTHERS.

You don’t need us to tell you that volunteering, giving back, and getting involved in your community is a good idea and something you should strive to do as much as you can, but did you know it’s actually good for your health? Studies show it can actually decrease your cortisol levels, and Lord knows, we could all benefit from that these days!