The month of March
Nestled neatly in between the month of love and the month of showers, we arrive in March! This third month of the year hosts an array of interesting dates and holidays like St. Patrick's Day, the Ides of March, Pi Day, and the dreaded daylight savings day! But this year we here at Noble Companion are going to focus on the day that many people look forward to the most, that being the Vernal Equinox. Yes, spring has sprung, and with it comes the return of many favorite outdoor activities, so hang up the heavy coats, snow boots, and get outside to enjoy the beautiful weather that has eluded us over the past couple of months.
Spring Activities
Gardening: Gardening is a favorite springtime activity for people of all ages. What more rewarding activity is there than one that can feed you for doing it? Whether you are bedding your annual flower garden or trying your hand at keeping a plant alive for the first time, there are a lot of benefits to gardening that might be less than apparent at first glance. The links between gardening and all types of health suggest that spending time surrounded by greenery and nature improves outcomes of medical patients. On top of the general health benefits of gardening there are the massive benefits that come with eating the fresh food that you grew yourself – free of preservatives and unpronounceable ingredients. Studies show again and again that ultra processed foods (Which make up more than half of the average Americans daily calorie intake), wreak havoc on body systems and speed up undesirable processes like accelerated aging and cognitive decline. Food grown in your own backyard comes with the guarantee that it is free of unwanted ingredients plus it feels good to know that you can feed yourself from the ground up!
Hiking: Beyond the backyard, spending time in nature is a wonderful way to bolster the many facets of your health. One of the greatest features of living in the United States is our thousands of national, state, and county parks. You need not worry about hiking a whole mountain; just getting out on the trails and breathing the fresh spring air, seeing the flora and fauna, and getting your legs moving is enough to lift spirits and improve all facets of your health. Aim for at least 120 minutes (2 hours) of outdoors time per week and you should begin to see noticeable improvements in your overall wellbeing; these 2 hours don’t need to be spent all in one place either, divvy the activities up between gardening and hiking until you find a balance that works for you.
Embrace Local: As the warmth sets in and the greenery pops out, people feel compelled to get out of the house. One wonderful setting to get outside and enjoy the weather in is your own community! Spring is often the start of festival and event season for municipalities across the country, and these events help bring the community together after a long quiet winter indoors. Not sure what your town or city has to offer? Grab a local newspaper or utilize a search engine online to find times and dates for your favorite festivals and explore new options to attend too! With the growth of the internet as a medium for communication, it is easier than ever before to discover new events and activities to attend right nearby. Bring a friend with you or go solo to meet new people, either way, there are hardly any springtime activities that are more fun than festivals and events – so make a new tradition, attend what your community has to offer, and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine that is sure to come along with it!
With another bleak winter behind us, we look forward to Spring. Shaking off the winter blues can be a daunting task as the weather improves and the world opens back up, but embracing the change and getting out into the world comes with benefits that extend far beyond those listed above. Make this spring one to remember by embracing new activities and events that seem interesting to you. You might find a new lifelong tradition will be born from stepping outside of your comfort zone and the friends you make exploring these activities might just be new allies in your life's journey ahead! Finally, if getting out seems too steep of a hill to climb, you can always find help and encouragement through a Companion who would be thrilled to help aid you.
Sources
Harvard School of Public Health