My Favorite Springtime Activities
5 Fun Ways to Cure Spring Fever
Spring is here, the buds are finally breaking on the trees, and my restless urge to be outside can’t be contained. Spring always carries a sense of anticipation for the year to come. With the world filled with so much uncertainty right now, being outside is one way I stay grounded. Whether you are gearing up for a busy season like us or in the home stretch of your first homeschooling teaching role, I think we can agree the fresh spring air is just what we need.
I am not much of a New Year’s resolution kind of girl, but I do love setting an intention for the year. Last year my intention for the year was to find balance. Owning your own business can leave blurry lines between work, home life, self-care, and, oh yeah, that thing called FUN! Setting my intention helps guide me to make decisions that support that goal. Getting outside (not working) is one way I love to recharge. And, it’s proven to come with health benefits, from improved blood pressure and reducing anxiety, to boosting mental health.
I made a list of my 5 favorite things to do in the spring that you can enjoy by yourself or with your family.
Nature scavenger hunt. This can be done even in the smallest of backyards. Write down a list of 10-15 things you want to find outside. As an added bonus, have the kids help come up with the list or draw a picture of the items they want to find. Some of our favorites are a feather, a spider web, and of course any flowers. I enjoy the downloadable and printable forms by Trish Sutton. Check out the link to her scavenger hunt here.
Start seeds indoors. This is the perfect time of year to start your veggie or flower seeds for the summer. Grab some potting soil and an empty egg carton and you are ready to grow some seeds. If you are local to the MOV Scot’s Landscape is offering curbside pickup for seed starting supplies and any other spring goodies you need to help hold you over.
Force Spring blooming tree branching indoors. I love cutting branches from our Crabapple and Cherry trees and bringing them in to enjoy their blooms indoors. This is super simple and can be done now before the leaves even flush out on the trees. Start by cutting 12-18” stems off the tree. Once you’re inside, place the branches in a vase of water and set in a bright room. Bright light helps create better quality blooms. I like to cut my branch at a sharp angle to maximize the amount of water they take up. Change the water every few days and the flowers should appear in a few weeks. My favorite part is getting to watch the flower unfold right in your home.
Paint rocks as plant markers for your garden. If you walk through my garden you will find lots of hidden stones that I have made or have been gifted over the years. I love seeing them poke through the daylily foliage or finding one that the dogs attempted to bury. Painting garden stones is super simple and a relaxing way to unplug. I have used regular acrylic paint but it only seems to last a few seasons. I have had the best luck using Patio Paint - it is specifically formulated for outdoor projects and holds up really well. If you want to write on the rocks, I like using a DecoArt paint marker. They make a great gift idea for any gardener in your life.
Do something that is outside your comfort zone. I recently attended a seminar with the speaker Paul Long and he challenged the audience to stretch our comfort zones. Not a new concept for me but I found myself super uncomfortable during the talk when everyone had to get up and give ‘foot-fives’ to each other. If you know me personally, you know that I LOVE to dance, so why was a ‘foot-five’ to a stranger uncomfortable? Since then I have been pushing myself to do more playful activities like cart-wheels (thanks to a friend), skipping, singing, and playing hopscotch. If you are like me and you loathe Wal-Mart, try skipping into the store next time. We did and it set the tone for a fun shopping experience.
I would love to hear your ideas and ways you experience the outdoors. Send us your photos and we will be sure to share them.
Get outside and get dirty,
Lyndsay
