Celebrating Spring

Spring is here. Finally! It seemed as though winter would never end between the unexpected snow and drenching rain. But, here we are. Flowers are blooming, grass is growing, temperatures are rising, and the sunshine continues to linger a little bit longer with each passing day.

According to its etymology, the name of this season derives from a Germanic and Old English word springan meaning “to leap, to burst forth.” This time of year used to be called “springing time” as a reference to plants “springing” from the ground. It makes sense then, that this time of year is commonly associated with renewal and growth.

For some of us, getting motivated to come out of hibernation is difficult. If you are finding difficulty in taking advantage of the season or if you are looking for new ways to enjoy this time of year, there are plenty of chances to shake off the winter blues and celebrate spring!

Go Camping. 

One of the best parts about Germany is its affinity for outdoor activities and camping is high up on the list. Eurocampings.co.uk/germany offers more than 1100 camping locations and highlights some of the more popular places. Choices range from camping with pets, to campsites by the water, and even spots offering WiFi.

Spend Time Outside.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American spends 93% of their life indoors. Broken down, 87% is in homes or work while another 6% in automobiles. That’s only 7% of your entire life outdoors, which is only one half of one day per week. Sounds like it’s time to get outside! Between long days at work and short weekends, it can be difficult to make time to take advantage of the nicer weather. Take time to fly a kite, go on a picnic, read a book on your porch, go for a walk, play in the puddles after a rainstorm, pick strawberries, put up a birdfeeder/bath/house, or simply just relax. Get out there!

Spring Cleaning.

If you’re one of those people who feels like Sisyphus when it comes to cleaning, it might help to refocus on different projects. Clean out closets holding clothes that don’t fit or haven’t been worn. Dust the cobwebs from the corners and maybe even reorganize the furniture. You might also think about adding some greenery inside your home or brightening up the colors inside with a simple pillow or couch cover.

Gardening.

A recent study in Pre-ven-ta-tive Medicine Re-ports finds spending time digging in the dirt can actually reduce stress and anxiety, improves mental clarity, and helps you sleep better. Don’t have a green thumb? No need to worry. Start small. Go to your nearby hardware store or flower shop and buy plants that simply need to be placed in soil. If you’re feeling adventurous, maybe start a vegetable garden or an herb garden. There are plenty of websites including www.realsimple.com and www.garden.org that can help with the basics.

Get to Know Your Surroundings.

Regardless of where you live, knowing your surroundings can help in a variety of ways. Walk around the nearby town to see and explore local shops. Learn about the local history and the upcoming festivals. You might even make a friend or two.

Get Crafty.

According to a study published by The Journal of Neuropsychiatry, crafting can improve cognitive functioning and reasoning skills. Check in with the arts and crafts centers on your post or base to see what kinds of fun activities they have in store for the season. If you’re more of a loner, think about taking on a DIY project like scrapbooking, photography, or knitting.

Visit a New Place.

How often have you said, “oh the weather doesn’t look so good, maybe we should go another time”? No more excuses. It’s time to explore! It’s likely that once you knew you were moving to Europe, you made a list of places to visit. Take the time to do it.  It’s inspiring to see the spring in other areas. From now until May 21, the Keukenhof Flower Show near Lisse in the Netherlands has huge gardens display with a variety of flowers that are sure to give you Spring fever.