How to Enjoy Spring

Starting Fresh

Start planning. The beginning of spring is the best time to plan how you'll enjoy the rest of spring. Whether it's gardening, spring cleaning, learning something new, having a makeover, organizing renovations, or another activity suited to a season of renewal, planning for it will help you to make the most of the spring months. Spring is the ideal time to set the pace for the coming warm months, including any transitions or transformations you're hoping to make. If you want to take a summer vacation, start planning for it now if you haven't already started.

Spring clean. This age-old tradition of clearing away the cobwebs of winter will give your house a fresh beginning for the warmer months ahead and make the house and surrounds more inviting and enjoyable for you and your family and friends. Spring is a great time to do thorough cleaning because many of us have pent-up energy to expend after being cooped up for the winter. Spring cleaning isn't as mundane as routine cleaning because it's about making space, clearing out things, and even redesigning your home. Check that you have all the cleaning supplies you'll need. Look closely at brooms, brushes, mops, and sponges to see if they're still in good condition or whether its time to replace them. Have all your cleaning solutions ready. If you're making your own cleaning solutions, check out wikiHow's suggestions under Home cleaning preparations. Wait for the first few warm days of spring and get started. Clear the trash and clutter, sweep down cobwebs, dust everything, and donate or dispose of anything you don't need in the house anymore. Don't forget the garage, car, any out-buildings, and garden sheds. Clean out your computer files and emails. No time like springtime to get rid of your digital mess too! The less cluttered your digital life, the more time you have to enjoy the days of spring. For more ideas, read How to spring clean.

Consider redecoration or renovation; perhaps even a move. This is a good time to sit back and assess the strengths and weaknesses of your current living space and to reach a decision about whether or not it could be improved through a change in decoration styles or additions through decorations. Redecoration doesn't have to mean the entire house. Perhaps sprucing up your bedroom or your living area will be enough of a new direction for you and/or the family this year. Renovations can take time to plan and get consent for. The earlier you start thinking about them, the better If you find your house is too small or big, or that it's not meeting your needs and you don't want to renovate, Spring is usually a good time to place your house on the market and to find a new one. If you're not sure whether it's better to move or renovate, read How to decide whether to move or renovate to help you make the decision.

Rejuvenate your energy levels. As well as spring cleaning the house, car, and garden, consider spring cleaning your health as well. Winter is a time of eating more than during the rest of the year and if you've slipped into eating habits that aren't as healthy as they could be, Spring is the time to mend your ways and to begin eating healthy, fresh foods again. Improve your nutrition intake and feel your energy levels soar again. Spring is a wonderful time to make dietary changes because there are so many delicious baby or young vegetables, salad vegetables and fresh fruits available. Make the most of these foods while they're fresh, as they taste best when young and will enthuse your taste buds to want more! Eat seasonally and locally. Put your body and appetite on the same seasonal schedule as your local environment -- and help out your local farmers at the same time. Consider detoxing your body. Some people enjoy going on fasts as part of a detox but you should always run going on a fast by your doctor first, just to be sure it's safe for you. Improve your sleeping schedule. If you've been getting into poor sleeping habits over winter, spring is a good time to fix your sleep schedule to restore your energy. Read How to sleep better for more ideas. Have a massage, or book yourself into a day spa for a full day of pampering.

Consider getting a makeover. It could be as little as a new hairstyle or as big as a whole wardrobe change but spring is a perfect time to consider personal appearance changes. Over the winter your hair has been hidden under hats and scarves, and spring might reveal a hairstyle you're just not happy with. Talk to your hairdresser about options that will bring you up-to-date and feeling good about how you're looking again. Check through your closet. Are your spring clothes in good condition and still wearable or are they looking decidedly old or perhaps even "last season" if you're very fashion-conscious? If you're ready to change your wardrobe, spring is the perfect time to do it. Use a short break or a weekend to clear out the closet entirely and to only put back the things you really love wearing. Everything else can go to charity or the rag bag (or pet's bed) and then you have an excuse to do some shopping for a few new items that will blend in well with the clothes you've kept. Now is an excellent time to discard outdated makeup. Makeup wasn't made to last, so throw out anything that's old, caked up, or obviously in bad condition. Read the fashion magazines and websites to find out what's in season. You don't have to buy everything; just purchase a few items that will give your current clothing a spring fashion edge.

Smile and take time to notice the changes around you. Listen to the birds sing and nest, look out for animals with their young, and watch the plant life around you emerge, shoot up, and finally start to blossom. The world around you is starting fresh; so can you. Every week brings subtle changes until suddenly it seems as if spring is in full bloom around you. Set yourself a goal of noticing all the little changes that get spring to this point.

Getting Outdoors

Work on your lawn and garden. The garden will need some tender loving care after winter to encourage new healthy growth. Plants differ in what they need at this time of year, so know which plants in your garden need a spring pruning or tidy-up; some may need dividing and now might be a good time to take cuttings. Have a good look around the garden to see what jobs need doing and to check whether new mulch and compost layers are needed and whether there are weeds to be removed. Plant flowers. The local gardening center will start to get deliveries of lovely new annuals and perennials in bloom that you can plant straight in the ground, or you can wander in and check out the available flower seeds. Sunflower seeds are a great beginner's flower if you're stuck for ideas. Think about planting flowers in local community planting events -- a great way to meet others and beautify your local environment. Don’t forget about your lawn. It may never be as beautiful as your flowers, but it can use some love after a harsh winter as well. Fertilize, reseed, and/or aerate to prepare it for the hot sunshine of July.

Prepare the vegetable patch. Now is the time to start thinking about your summer harvest. Which vegetables grow well in your area and are great spring or summer crops? Do some reading up of gardening books or ask a green-thumbed neighbor if you need advice. If your compost has become a big sluggish, give it a good stir and start afresh. If you are unable or prefer not to maintain a garden yourself, get someone to do the work for you. Just looking at a tidy and happy veggie patch will make you feel good. If you don't have a garden, you might be able to join a community garden or a start a yard share. Spring is a great time to get involved in shared gardening and you'll meet lots of new friends.

Enjoy animals enjoying Spring. You aren’t the only one emerging from a long wintry slumber. Signs of life abound outdoors, so soak it in. Build a birdhouse and/or birdfeeder. Bring those cardinals and blue jays in for a closer look. Or just go to the local pond and feed the ducks your stale bread. Keep an eye out for ducklings. If you’d rather go to the birds than bring them to you, go birdwatching. Even a beat-up old pair of binoculars will help. Or just take a nature walk and see what you come across. Take your dog on long walks. All winter, you’ve probably been walking Sparky only long enough for him to do his business. Go further, and see what he discovers. (But watch he doesn’t find a skunk!) If you really want to maximize your springtime animal viewing, visit the zoo. You’re still outdoors, still exercising, and you’ll see a wide variety of animals responding to Spring. You’ll probably spot some exotic baby animals.

Capture the Spring scenery. Sadly, it will be Winter again before you know it, so give yourself some happy reminders of this time of year. Take your camera when you go walking. Look for signs of Spring emerging everywhere and take photos that you can use for collages, decorations, and photo projects; or, you can just share the marvels of Spring through your photos with people online. Try painting or drawing "en plein air" (the French expression for 'paint outdoors'). You'll be surprised at how much brighter your colors are in the spring sunshine and how many beautiful things there are to paint or sketch nearby. When sketching birds or animals from life, don't expect them to hold a pose - be more of an Impressionist. A painting isn't a photo - capturing the right “feel” is more important than accuracy.

Get active. Yes, you’re doing yardwork and taking walks, but make the most of this time of year -- not too cold, not too hot, just right for an active Goldilocks like you. Dust off the bicycle and start seeing your neighborhood again from two wheels. Gather some friends and spend the day biking. If you want to explore, bring a phone with a GPS installed in it. You can discover some secret places, and get back home on time! Take the kids down to the local park or reserve with some balls, rackets, kites, and a picnic basket. Spend an hour or more letting them charge about playing games and finish up with a lunch or dinner meal on a rug. Enjoy springtime sports like golf or, perhaps the most Spring-y sport, baseball. Watch them, sure, but play them too. Heck, go down to your favorite ball team’s Spring Training and really feel the warmth of the season! Check out the festivals in your area. There are many festivals and other community events held during springtime, including perhaps cherry blossom or tulip festivals. Find out what's happening in your local area or even where you're prepared to travel to and enjoy the festivities on offer.

Bring the outdoors indoors (and vice versa). You’ve spent the Winter looking out the window, dreaming of the chance to head back outside without having to pull on layer after layer of clothes. Get out there whenever you can, and when you can’t, bring a little of Spring into your home. Open the windows. It sounds so simple, but we’ve become so used to climate conditioning that the simple pleasure of a springtime breeze lofting up your drapes and brushing your face is often lost. Take advantage of this time of year when you can give both the furnace and the A/C a rest. Bring flowers into the house. Spring flowers will bring joy into the house with their bright colors and lovely fragrances. Tulips, lilacs or peonies will be a great choice. Aim to have new, fresh flowers in the house every week during Spring. Read How to arrange flowers, How to make homemade flower food for cut flowers, and How to stop cut flowers turning smelly for more ideas. Do indoor tasks outside. Spare the dryer and hang your laundry on the line. Wipe off that old picnic table and have dinner al fresco. Read a novel or even balance the checkbook on a blanket instead of the couch. Feel the sun on your face, smell the blooming flowers, see the world colorizing like it’s the Wizard of Oz, and hear the birds sing. Spring is here and now, and so are you.