Using Daylight Savings to Your Advantage
After a long, dark winter, spring is finally here! As the weather improves, the days lengthen, and the sun shines more frequently. Daylight saving time tends to get a bad rap, and for good reason; no one likes losing an hour of sleep for “spring forward”. But, capitalizing on what daylight savings has to offer can actually have a big impact on your mental health. Here are some ways to use daylight saving time to your advantage to help improve your mental health!
Longer Days:
When the sun begins setting after 6PM, everyday tasks tend to feel more attainable. When it gets dark out, your mind tells you it’s time to wind down for the day, this isn’t practical at 5PM. With the sun setting later we feel like we actually have more time in our day to be productive and get stuff done. This is why “spring cleaning” is such a common phenomenon! You’re more likely to come home from work, and feel like you still have energy to do something afterward. This doesn’t just mean doing chores though, the longer days make us want to go outside for a walk after work, take up a new class or hobby, or even just do something small like read a book for an hour! You’re more inclined to want to do something when the sun’s up so longer days means more doing things you’ve been putting off, planning more activities, and spending more time with friends. Doing more of these activities will boost mental health!
Better Weather:
Yes! Spring means better weather, which has a huge effect on our mental health. Simply sitting out in the sun for half an hour and doing nothing can help boost your serotonin levels and make you feel better. But to seriously improve mental health this spring, try to be active in nature and take advantage of the sun! Invite a friend on a hike, go for a run and listen to a podcast, or go for a walk unplugged and listen to the sounds nature has to offer you. While the good weather alone has a great effect on our mental health, immersing yourself in it with an activity will have an even better effect!
Chance to begin a new routine:
If you’re someone who needs routine in their life to keep their mental health in check, spring forward is a great time to begin building a good daily routine. Routine can be something as simple as sleeping with your blinds open so the sun gradually wakes you up earlier than you might get up otherwise, or starting your day by opening your windows and listening to the birds chirp while you journal. Spring is the start of the second quarter of the year. It's a great time to give yourself a clean slate and find a routine that works for you to help maintain good mental health.
If better weather and longer days aren’t having quite the impact you were hoping on your mental health, it might be time to reach out to someone. Therapy is a great way to gauge where you’re at and what you need help on improving to maintain mental health that leaves you feeling good. Book your free consultation with us here today and see how Mayra can help you in your mental health journey.