5 simple spring rituals for the home & your health
Be still my heart, it's peony season!
Perfect blooms, birdsong , bright mornings, and cotton dresses… Aah, the feeling of summer’s approach.
As I watch little miracles of new life unfold in my garden, I feel inspired to bring some of the springtime vibrance into my home… perhaps you do too? Here are a few simple spring rituals I enjoy for improving the home environment and supporting wellness… I’m looking forward to hearing about yours in the comments. :)
🪟Airing out
According to a recent study, people worldwide are spending 85-90% of their time indoors and this is a huge contributor to disease (Mannan, M., & Al-Ghamdi, S. G. (2021) because indoor air quality is often quite poor when compared to outside.
“Airing out” the home is a typical German practice that many here do 5-10 minutes daily, year around (yes, even in sub-zero temperatures), but it’s one routine that I especially relish in spring and those fragrant early summer mornings. Something about inviting in the fresh air, birdsong, and scent of lilacs makes ever room in the house more inviting.
💐Add some fresh flowers
Did you know that blooms in the house are scientifically shown to reduce stress and even increase compassion towards others?
👉Try this: instead of buying a pre-made bouquet, make an experience of going to a local you-pick flower farm, ask a friend if you can (gently) raid their flower patch, or go for a hike and collect some pretty weeds.
If a flower shop is your only option, try mixing it up by randomly selecting blooms. While we tend to go about tasks such as getting dressed and arranging flowers with subconscious rules of what will “go together”, I dare you to choose whimsy. And, I’d love to see a picture of your “bouquet”!
Here’s one of mine from last year:
🌱🥕Grow something
Speaking of flowers… how about adding some plants to your home? Research tells us that having plants around to care for can boost health status and that growing our own food has benefits that reach beyond nutrition. In a study that included 90 hospitalised people, researchers noted:
“Patients in hospital rooms with plants and flowers had significantly more positive physiologic responses evidenced by lower systolic blood pressure, and lower ratings of pain, anxiety, and fatigue than patients in the control room.” - Park, S. H., & Mattson, R. H. (2009).
In a age of hand sanitizer and gardening gloves, the fact is that contact with soil is good for us. Children who do not have regular contact with dirt are more susceptible to developing allergies and may have worse mental health in adulthood (Preuß, M., et al., 2019). Some research suggests that contact with the bacteria, Mycobacterium vaccae, in soil causes a release of serotonin, a neurotransmitter related to feelings of happiness and optimism, in the brain. Additionally, the act of harvesting food, such as picking berries or digging up a potato, is also linked to a surge in dopamine, similar to other relaxing or enjoyable activities.
Even if you don’t have access to a small plot of land, many things can be grown in a pot or indoors. My favorites to grow in a pot are: cucumbers, salad greens, culinary herbs, and rainbow chard. Check out this article from Homes & Gardens for easy instructions and a list of the best veggies to grow in pots!
🍓Delight in a seasonal recipe
Seasonal eating keeps the menu fresh and has strengthened my connection to the land as well as my appreciation for certain foods. Considering what is on right now and planning that into my menu helps me to stay curious about what is happening outdoors through the seasons.
It’s strawberry season here in Germany and I’m currently trying my hand at making a healthier version of the traditional “Erdbeerkuchen” (strawberry cake), which I will share (as soon as it is perfected!). In the meantime, the original version is a deliciously light dessert that is far less sweet than most American cakes. While using an authentic German recipes is probably best, I did find one that seems well translated, here!
👗Swap out your closet
Consider starting the habit of a seasonal refresh for your closet by dividing most of your items into seasonal or simply “warm weather” and “cold weather” groups, storing the ones not currently in use out of sight - save perhaps one sweater and a coat to get you through a random chilly day. Additionally, as I mentioned in a recent post, getting rid of items you don’t need or that are potentially hazardous to health, like synthetics, is a great way to reduce clutter.
Every time I dig my box of spring/summer garments out of storage, it feels like I’ve received a box of new clothes and somehow I’m much more excited to wear them that if they’d been in plain view in the closet all winter. Check out my method for curating a sustainable, slow living approved wardrobe that you’ll love.
Let me know how it goes if you try any of these and in any case, ENJOY SPRING!
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xx Chesica
References
Park, S. H., & Mattson, R. H. (2009). Ornamental indoor plants in hospital rooms enhanced health outcomes of patients recovering from surgery. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 15(9), 975–980. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2009.0075
Preuß, M., Nieuwenhuijsen, M., Marquez, S., Cirach, M., Dadvand, P., Triguero-Mas, M., Gidlow, C., Grazuleviciene, R., Kruize, H., & Zijlema, W. (2019). Low Childhood Nature Exposure is Associated with Worse Mental Health in Adulthood. International journal of environmental research and public health, 16(10), 1809. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16101809
Queen anne lace (Daucus carrota), which you show off nicely in your photograph, is such a great one to feature. It is a common "weed" so it is available to everyone. Reminding us that beauty is everywhere. I can sit and stare at the intricate blossom for a very long time. The seed head has an interesting sculptural form and would be nice in flower arrangements.