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With springtime officially upon us, you’re probably ready for a fresh start. Being outside in the sunshine is a welcome change after spending lots of time indoors during the winter!
You might also want to create healthier habits as the weather warms up to go along with the general theme of new beginnings this time of year. Fortunately, making changes to your routine doesn’t need to be complicated and can have lasting benefits for your mood, stress levels, and overall brain health.
Learn how to make sustainable changes by adding superfoods to your diet, staying hydrated with perked-up water, swapping out sugary snacks for more nutritious options and staying social without alcohol.
1. Incorporate Superfoods
What you eat greatly impacts your health, and taking a look at your nutrition habits is a great place to start when it comes to developing healthier habits. Remember that starting small—and having a powerful reason behind improving your eating habits—are the best ways to make sustainable changes to your routine.
Examples of small—yet mighty—changes so you can add more superfoods to your eating pattern include:
- Mixing chia seeds into smoothies, yogurt or salads for a fiber-filled punch
- Making an acai bowl with acai powder for a helping of healthy fats
- Preparing energy bites using maqui powder for a burst of antioxidants
- Drinking a smoothie made with Superfood+ Greens Blend for a serving of moringa, kale and wheatgrass
- Swapping out white bread for whole wheat in order to consume more fiber and vitamins
- Adding avocado to smoothies or salads for a dose of healthy fats, B vitamins, and antioxidants, which support stress relief and help regulate cortisol levels.
2. Perk Up Your Drink
Staying hydrated plays a big role in how well you feel. If you have a headache coming on or feel tired or dizzy, it could mean you’re dehydrated. While water is a fabulous choice for meeting your fluid needs, you can shake things up—literally—by adding nutrient-dense options to it!
Consider making chia water by adding 1-2 tablespoons of chia seeds to a cup of water and gently mixing together. Let the seeds sit for up to two minutes and then enjoy quickly to avoid a gel-like texture as the seeds absorb more water. Chia seeds contain omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and fiber, which means they help reduce inflammation, promote heart and brain health and protect against cancer. They also support a balanced stress response.
Plain water can also be jazzed up with lemon or lime juice or by infusing it with berries.
If you like the flavor of matcha, consider making a cup of tea or a latte with matcha powder! Golden milk lattes and tropical smoothies taste great with turmeric powder mixed in.
3. Stay Energized
While getting quality sleep is a sure way to have enough energy throughout the day, other tips and tricks can help too.
Eating regularly, ideally every three to four hours, can help keep ravenous hunger and energy dips at bay.
Choosing balanced snacks that contain protein and carbohydrates is another way to have stable energy. Snack ideas include:
- PB&J Power Snacks paired with string cheese
- Goldenberries mixed with nuts
- Semi-Sweet Cacao Wafers along with an apple and peanut butter
For optimal energy and stress reduction, avoid products with added sugars like soda, energy drinks and granola bars, which are likely to cause a decrease in your energy levels later in the day. They could also lead to mood swings and impact your cortisol levels.
Bonus Points
Want to take your spring wellness game to the next level? Here are two bonus tips to keep you feeling your best this season!
4. Get Social
After spending a lot of time indoors over the winter, spring is the perfect time to get outside and socialize!
Being social has been shown to decrease the risk of having cognitive impairment and dementia, promote longevity, reduce stress and improve mood.
Fun ways to spend time with others include going for a walk, cooking a meal or discussing the latest books you’ve read.
5. Ditch the Alcohol
Unfortunately, a common disadvantage to socializing, despite its many benefits, is alcohol consumption. Think about it: an easy way to catch up with friends is to visit the newest brewery or trendy bar in town.
If your alcohol consumption tends to increase with the temperatures, consider scaling back and trying these fun drinks instead:
6. Take it Slow
With spring comes warmer temperatures, new growth and inspiration for building healthier habits. Whether you choose to add more superfoods to your diet, mix fun ingredients into your plain old water, switch up your snacks or ditch alcohol, remember to take it slow.
Try making one change at a time until it’s a habit, and then continue. This will increase your chances of success without feeling overwhelmed so you can have a fabulous and fun spring! Whether it’s adding superfoods for stress relief, incorporating more vitamin-rich foods like sweet potatoes and salmon, or reducing your intake of simple carbs, these small steps can have a big impact on your stress levels and overall well-being.
