<\/p>\n
As flowers begin to bloom and birds make their way back across the states, it\u2019s clear that spring has sprung. This new season doesn\u2019t just symbolize renewal, but a time for birth, growth, and nurturing. When it comes to our mental health, however, our minds don\u2019t always automatically reset.\u00a0<\/p>\n
With warming temperatures often comes the pressure to \u201cfeel better.\u201d It\u2019s sunny out, so our anxiety and depression should phase out, right? Sometimes, but that\u2019s often not the case for many.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Instead of seeing spring as a season that magically fixes everything, we need to reframe it through the proper lens. Spring, like any other season, has the power to reset our souls, but it can only do so if we prioritize intentional care over passive change.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When Spring finally arrives, many of us start to feel a lift in seasonal symptoms. With less darkness and more time outside, we may find ourselves less depressed or anxious. This isn\u2019t just a fluke. According to the University of Nebraska\u2013Lincoln, \u201cone of the biggest benefits of spring is the increase in sunlight, which naturally boosts mood and energy levels by enhancing vitamin D production. Warmer weather also encourages more outdoor activities, allowing us to engage in physical exercise, which is known to reduce stress and improve mental health.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spring affects our mental health because more sunlight can shift our mood. However, this isn\u2019t the case for everyone. As our schedules change and daylight increases, we also begin to feel pressure to be more active and productive. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln adds, \u201cwhile many enjoy the positive aspects of spring, others may find certain changes challenging. Increased social expectations can lead to pressure or anxiety, especially for those who prefer solitude or struggle with social interactions. If large gatherings feel overwhelming, consider solo outdoor activities like walking, reading in the park, or simply soaking in the sunlight for a few minutes each day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Growth can feel uncomfortable during these seasons, but that doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s not worth embracing. If you\u2019re itching to care for your mental health this spring and want some fresh ideas to spruce up your routine, try one of these 10 tips. If one works for you, great. Suppose it doesn\u2019t, try another and see what works best for you. Remember: Time invested in your mental health is never wasted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1. Get Outside Daily:<\/strong> We all know that getting outside into the fresh air is good for us, but have you ever understood why? Sunlight, fresh air, and nature all have incredible mood benefits. According to the American Psychological Association, this is because \u201cspending time in nature is linked to both cognitive benefits and improvements in mood, mental health, and emotional well-being.\u201d When we feel connected to nature, we reap the benefits of well-being. From five minutes to five hours, getting outside tends to our souls well.\u00a0<\/p>\n 2. Gently Reset Your Routine:<\/strong> When Spring arrives, sometimes we\u2019re tempted to do it all. We wish to overhaul our entire routines and wonder why we burn out quickly. Instead, try gently resetting your routine with small and simple adjustments. Adjust your bedtime and reduce screen time before bed. Start or end your day with gentle movement and make your morning routine as peaceful as possible.<\/p>\n 3. Declutter Your Space:<\/strong> Like Spring cleaning, we can declutter our hearts, minds, and souls. Yes, the external environment affects our internal state, so keep physical spaces as tidy as possible. But also don\u2019t forget that what you think about, feed yourself, and nourish your soul with, also matters, too. Pay attention to what you\u2019re consuming and declutter those spaces.\u00a0<\/p>\n 4. Limit Social Media Comparison:<\/strong> It might sound silly, but Spring often amplifies comparison. The more vacations, bodies, and productivity we see on social media, the more unsatisfied we become with our own lives. Instead of getting stuck in the comparison trap, limit socials and ask the Lord for help to be content with what you have.\u00a0<\/p>\n 5. Move Your Body in Enjoyable Ways:<\/strong> A lot of people hate working out because they think of it as punishing their bodies. Instead of keeping this legalistic mindset, reframe, knowing that we\u2019re called to care for our temples well. Choose to move your body in enjoyable ways\u2014not to lose weight, but because it\u2019s good for you. This could look like a gentle walk, stretching, or engaging in low-pressure movement.\u00a0<\/p>\n 6. Reconnect with People:<\/strong> Spring is also the perfect season to reconnect with people you may have lost touch with. Note: This doesn\u2019t mean being friends with everyone or overextending yourself. Instead, choose to participate in intentional and life-giving relationships. Relationships that lift you, support you, and build you up in the Lord.<\/p>\n 7. Practice Emotional Check-Ins:<\/strong> Instead of ignoring your emotions until they swell up, boil over, and overflow, try practicing daily or weekly emotional check-ins. For me, this looks like taking a few minutes each day to journal and name what I\u2019m feeling. If I\u2019m struggling to identify what I feel, I also like to use a feelings wheel.\u00a0<\/p>\n 8. Try Something New:<\/strong> Instead of getting bogged down by the same boring routine, choose to try something new. This could be a date with your spouse, hanging out with a best friend, or eating a special treat. Novelty boosts mood and engagement, and when we pair this with things that are naturally good for our mental health, we will surely reap the benefits.\u00a0<\/p>\n 9. Nourish Your Body Consistently:<\/strong> While eating your favorite treat isn\u2019t bad, it\u2019s also important to eat balanced meals and nourish your body consistently. If you struggle with anxiety or depression like me, this can be a challenge. Sometimes I\u2019m just really not hungry. If this is you, try eating smaller, more frequent meals. Adding in adequate nutrition and electrolytes can also help wonders.<\/p>\n 10. Spend Time with God in a Fresh Way:<\/strong> Finally, if we wish to achieve a true mental reset this Spring, we must not forsake our souls. Spending time with God in new and fresh ways helps us to grow deeper in our relationship with Him. This could look like changing your environment (going outside for a prayer walk, or doing devotionals while walking, for example), engaging in a new habit (watching a sermon or choosing to worship in song), or making time for solitude.\u00a0<\/p>\n Friends, no matter whether you try all 10 tips to reset this spring or none at all, I want us to remember that God\u2019s design is for seasons. Each of them has a purpose, and growth takes time, so don\u2019t rush the transformation. This Spring is a gentle invitation to reset, not a pressure you have to uphold.\u00a0<\/p>\n Don\u2019t try to change everything at once. You don\u2019t need to set unrealistic expectations or ignore how you feel. Instead, start small and choose to try 1 or 2 new habits. Then, focus on consistency over intensity. Permit yourself to grow slowly and intentionally, and in due season, your mental reset will occur.\u00a0<\/p>\n Mental health care is not a one-time reset; it\u2019s ongoing stewardship. Because small shifts matter more than perfect plans, no matter the season you find yourself in.<\/p>\n Photo credit: \u00a9GettyImages\/TomMerton<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Amber Ginter<\/strong> is a teacher-turned-author who loves Jesus, her husband Ben, and granola. Growing up Amber looked for faith and mental health resources and found none. Today, she offers hope for young Christians struggling with mental illness that goes beyond simply reading your Bible and praying more. Because you can love Jesus and still suffer from anxiety. You can download her top faith and mental health resources for\u00a0free to help navigate books, podcasts, videos, and influencers from a faith lens perspective. Visit her website at\u00a0amberginter.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As flowers begin to bloom and birds make their way back across the states, it\u2019s clear that spring has sprung. This new season doesn\u2019t just symbolize renewal, but a time for birth, growth, and nurturing. When it comes to our mental health, however, our minds don\u2019t always automatically reset.\u00a0 With warming temperatures often comes the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25457,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[146,703,152,792,6340,154],"class_list":{"0":"post-25456","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-christian-living","8":"tag-care","9":"tag-health","10":"tag-mental","11":"tag-simple","12":"tag-spring","13":"tag-ways"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25456","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=25456"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25456\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/25457"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=25456"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=25456"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=25456"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}God’s Design is for the Seasons<\/strong><\/h2>\n