Spring Forward, Feel Better: A Simple Wellness Routine for the Shift from Winter to Spring

As winter fades and spring starts to peek through, your wellness routine deserves a refresh—but not a complete overhaul. The easiest way to stay consistent is to shift with the season: keep what’s working from winter (comfort, structure, rest) and gently add spring elements (light, movement, freshness). Think of it as a seasonal tune-up, not a restart.

1) Reset your rhythm with light

Winter often pushes us into darker mornings and earlier nights, which can throw off energy and mood. Spring’s longer daylight is your simplest wellness tool.

• Open blinds as soon as you wake up.

• Spend 5–10 minutes outside in the morning (walk to the mailbox counts).

• In the evening, dim lights earlier to help your brain wind down.

Why it works: Morning light helps regulate your circadian rhythm, which supports sleep, energy, and appetite signals.

2) Shift your movement from “survive” to “revive”

Winter workouts often lean toward indoor routines and shorter sessions. Spring is a great time to expand gradually—especially outdoors.

Try this progression:

• Week 1–2: 20-minute walks, 3–4 days/week

• Week 3–4: Add a second “long walk” (40–60 minutes)

• Ongoing: Add strength training 2–3x/week (even 20 minutes is effective)

Spring bonus: Outdoor movement can boost motivation, reduce stress, and make exercise feel less like a chore.

3) Refresh your plate without getting extreme

Winter comfort foods have a place, but spring is a natural time to add lighter, brighter meals—without cutting out what you love.

Simple swaps:

• Add greens or crunchy vegetables to one meal per day.

• Choose lighter proteins (fish, chicken, beans) a few nights a week.

• Use fresh herbs, citrus, and seasonal produce to make meals feel “springy.”

Rule of thumb: Don’t restrict—add (fiber, protein, color, hydration).

4) Do a “spring clean” for stress

Spring cleaning isn’t just for closets—it can be for your mind and schedule, too.

• Pick one area to simplify (calendar, inbox, kitchen counter).

• Create a 10-minute daily reset (tidy + plan tomorrow’s top 3).

• Revisit boundaries you loosened during winter (late nights, too much screen time, skipped breaks).

Small changes create more calm than big, unrealistic goals.

5) Update your sleep routine for the time change

Spring often brings earlier sunrise, schedule shifts, and social plans—great, but disruptive. Protect your sleep with a few steady anchors.

• Keep your wake-up time consistent.

• Limit caffeine after late morning/early afternoon.

• Keep the bedroom cool and dark.

• Aim for a 20–30 minute wind-down routine (no perfection required).

Good sleep is the foundation that makes every other habit easier.

6) Build a simple seasonal routine you can actually follow

Here’s an easy winter-to-spring routine you can start this week:

Morning

• Light exposure (5–10 minutes)

• Water

• 5 minutes of stretching or mobility

Midday

• 20–30 minute walk (or movement break)

• Protein + fiber snack if needed

Evening

• Screen dim + tidy reset (10 minutes)

• Wind-down routine

• Bedtime at a consistent hour

The goal: a routine that evolves, not collapses

Winter routines are about staying steady. Spring routines are about building momentum. When you bridge the seasons gradually—more light, a little more movement, fresher food, and better sleep support—you’re more likely to stick with it and actually feel the shift.

Spring is nature’s reminder: you don’t have to force growth. You just need to create the conditions for it.

Winter Greens: How Indoor Plants Warm Up Your Home (and Your Mood)

When winter hits, our homes start working overtime. The heat is running, the windows stay shut, the light shifts cooler and shorter, and suddenly even your favorite room can feel a little… flat. One of my go-to design “fixes” this time of year is also one of the simplest: indoor plants.

1) They make a space feel alive when everything outside looks dormant

Winter landscapes can be beautiful, but they’re often bare. Bringing greenery indoors adds that sense of life and movement back into your home. A leafy plant in the corner of a living room or a cluster of small pots on a kitchen sill instantly softens hard lines and makes a space feel more welcoming—especially in rooms that lean neutral or minimal.

2) Plants add color and texture without “decorating harder”

In winter, many people add throws, candles, and heavier textiles (which I love), but plants do something different: they introduce organic texture. Glossy leaves, matte leaves, tall grasses, trailing vines—these shapes create visual depth the way artwork does, but with a calmer, more natural vibe. If your room feels a little monochrome in winter, a plant is like adding color without committing to bold paint or new furniture.

3) They help rooms feel fresher during closed-window season

When homes are sealed up for warmth, spaces can feel stale faster. While plants aren’t a magic cure-all, they do contribute to a “fresh” feeling in a room—partly because greenery signals nature and cleanliness to our brains, and partly because you tend to care for the space more when living things are in it. In design, that matters: a room that feels fresh is a room you actually want to spend time in.

4) They support winter mood and routine

Winter can mess with energy and motivation. I recommend plants to clients not just as decor, but as a gentle routine-builder: watering, rotating toward the light, wiping leaves. These small acts create a sense of rhythm and care at home—exactly what many people crave in the darker months.

5) They’re the easiest “style upgrade” for nearly any room

A plant can do what a lot of accessories try (and fail) to do: balance scale. Tall plant beside a sofa? Instantly makes the seating area feel grounded. Trailing plant on a shelf? Softens the edges and adds movement. Even one medium-sized floor plant can make a room look more finished—like it was styled intentionally, not just furnished.

Designer tip: choose plants that look good and feel doable

Winter light can be limited, so pick plants that tolerate lower light if your windows don’t get much sun. Snake plants, pothos, ZZ plants, and many philodendrons are popular for a reason: they’re forgiving and still look elevated. And if you want the “designer look,” use a simple pot and add a basket or stand to bring it up to eye level.

In winter, we’re indoors more than ever. Indoor plants are one of the most practical design tools I know because they don’t just make a home prettier—they make it feel better to live in.