Spring Ahead

Well it’s that time of year again when we turn our clocks forward and welcome in the first signs of spring. Some say we lose an hour, others say we gain an hour of sunlight at the end of the day - it all depends on how you look at it. Love it or hate it, it’s happening so may as well get on board and make the best of it! 

Though January may be the official start of the new year, you can use this “spring ahead” time as the starting point for positive health changes. The longer days signal that the hibernation period is over and it’s time to get active again. Now is a great time to use the bonus hour of light for a stroll or a hike in the evening before it gets dark. Getting some fresh air and exercise at the end of the day can help you quiet some of the day’s frustrations and improves your overall health in so many ways. Exercise can trigger the release of endorphins that help our mood, and any time away from screens is time well spent for your mental health. As we’ve looked at before, after at least 20 minutes outside our cortisol levels begin to drop. Recall that cortisol is the stress hormone and can cause increased inflammation in our body. Increased inflammation can lead to various health problems, not to mention increased pain from injuries and longer recovery times. 

Getting some air and activity can also help you sleep better at night. Just remember to give yourself at least a couple hours between your high intensity exercise and your bedtime so you aren’t too stimulated. Knocking another of the “pillars of health” down in this domino effect is that when you sleep better at night, your body will naturally crave different foods. We don’t make the best choices in this department when we’re short on sleep, and tend to turn more to sugary foods and may also seek more caffeine to pick us up - which as you guessed it, makes sleep more difficult, perpetuating the problem. When you sleep well (and exercise), your body naturally craves healthier foods and you’ll also soon find you don’t really need that second or third cup of coffee.  

So rather than dreading “adjusting to the new time” use this time change as your own springboard to making a habit of getting out for a walk at the end of the day. Your mind and your body will thank you for it and you’ll be triggering a positive domino effect of health benefits for yourself - and a buddy or two if you rope them into it with you!