8 Great Healthy Lifestyle Tips to Consider this Spring

With Spring here it's a great time to think about shifting toward a more healthy lifestyle. This past winter was particularly snowy and cold - it likely put a damper on any plans you had to make it to the gym regularly.

Fortunately, with spring comes earlier sunrises, warmer weather and some delicious seasonal fruits and vegetables to get you on the right track. These are just a few of the reasons why spring is an excellent time to really commit to a health regimen. Here are some simple and great tips for you to consider the spring to get started.

Stretch in the Morning

The earlier sunrises will make it a lot easier to get out of bed. Instead of sleeping in you should try a morning stretching routine. You can start with as little as five minutes. Stretching your legs, neck and back is a great way to wake up and start your day. You can gradually get up earlier and earlier, lengthening your routine.

Get Plenty of Sleep

If you feel yourself getting sleepy between 4pm and 6pm, it means that you aren't getting enough sleep at night. The average adult needs eight hours of good sleep to get the most out of their day. If you add in a morning stretch routine, it will actually help you fall asleep faster at night and get more restful sleep, so these two tips go hand-in-hand.

Eat Breakfast

The old saying about breakfast being the most important meal of the day still holds true. If you don't eat breakfast, you really should. Skipping breakfast will make you hungry before lunchtime and encourages snacking. Breakfast is particularly important if you want to lose weight, so grab something for breakfast after your morning stretches and enjoy the pleasant spring mornings. Grapefruit is in season during spring and makes a good breakfast food.

Snack Correctly

If you do snack, mind what you eat. Beets, carrots, cherries, kiwi fruit and strawberries all make fine snacks and are spring vegetables and fruits. Raw nuts are rich in nutrients and good as well.

A Daily Walk

If you can walk to work, then that's great. Exercise doesn't need to be overly rigorous nor intimidating. A short, brisk daily walk is a great place to start and spring is the best time for walks. Spring weather is great and not too cold or too hot. You can also try taking the stairs instead of the elevator when you have the chance.

Be Social

Make new friends or get in touch with old friends this spring. Use the pleasant spring weather as a reason to get together. Being social and making connections with other people is actually good for you both physically and mentally. Making small talk, even in the halls at work, provides you with mental stimulation and stress relief.

Try Tea

Replace one of your morning cups of coffee with a cup of herbal tea. There are so many varieties and tea has many health benefits. Coffee has plenty of antioxidants and so does tea, but teas also have a ton of vitamins and minerals. Some teas will help fight colds, combat seasonal allergies and also ease upset stomachs. With spring flowers in bloom, try a floral tea like rosehips. To give yourself an energy boost, try ginger.

Start a Garden

You do not have to have a yard to have a garden. You can try container gardening on a sunny patio or even a window sill garden - both require very little work. Tomatoes will grow as long as they get plenty of sunlight, and spring is a good time to grow greens like arugula and kale. Herbs and spices are easy to grow in a window sill garden. Having your own ingredients on hand will motivate you to cook and eat healthier and it is also very rewarding to cook using your own food.

Robert Vena
NJ Acupuncturist
Acupuncture-in-NJ.com