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I’m back from spring break and experiencing a case of the dreaded post-vacation blues. While following my own advice—reading a great book, eating well, and limiting my news consumption—the dark chilly mornings and gloomy grey skies of “spring” are compounding my malaise.
So I’ve had to get creative! Here are three tiny tricks that have helped…
1. Using my hands. I dusted off a watercolor set to harness the many proven benefits of making art. Doing anything with our hands is good for our brains, and making something tangible feels immensely satisfying: knitting, gardening, and coloring all improve memory and attention and reduce anxiety and depression. I love that even ten minutes of watercoloring delivers a happiness reset.
2. Exercise snacks. Returning to healthy habits after an extended break is a challenge. I trick myself into exercising by committing to a ridiculously tiny amount, which apparently is worthwhile: studies have shown that just 15 minutes of exercise per week is noticeably beneficial! Exercising, even for a few minutes each day, helps me combat the discouraging feeling that everything has fallen apart. The bonus: often, when I tell myself I’ll just work out for 5 minutes, I end up doing more!
3. Changing the tune. One of the things I miss on trips is being able to play music around the house. It’s well established that listening to music can make us feel happier, and it’s been proven to reduce blood pressure, heart rate, and anxiety. My current favorite is this one filled with 90s dancefloor bangers, and my trusty go-tos are: Good Feeling 70s, Party In Your Living Room, Feelin’ Good, Upbeat Cocktail Jazz, and this one, which works wonders when my teenage daughter is moody!
While I appreciate living in a place that has four clearly defined seasons, spring is always the most challenging, mood-wise, for me. It’s my least favorite, behind summer, fall, and winter! Am I an outlier? Which season do you like best?
📺WATCH. Steve Carell’s new show, Rooster, a “coming-of-middle-age” comedy set on a college campus, and centered on fatherhood and relationships, is a fun watch for couples! The first episode of Imperfect Women, starring Kerry Washington, Elisabeth Moss, and Kate Mara, was intriguing, and I’m looking forward to more. People are saying good things about Louis Theroux’s latest documentary, Manosphere. The last few episodes of Love Story have been disappointing, but I’ll watch the final episode, out tomorrow. And I have several episodes of Paradise to catch up on!
📚READ. More Than Enough, Anna Quindlen’s latest novel, is a lovely, comforting meditation on friendship, love, and the true meaning of family. Set in Manhattan and Connecticut, with a main character named Polly, it reminded me of Laurie Colwin’s books, and I loved it. If you like the sound of that, here are several more cozy reads! I’m partway through Lake Effect: a Novel, which (so far!) is a fun 70s romp set in Rochester, New York, where every character seems to be having a thrilling sexual awakening…
🍽️MAKE. Here are 10 great ideas for quick spring dinners using new season produce.
5 Simple and Cozy Rituals to Thrive in Spring. I have to work hard to accept and enjoy springtime: a few calming reminders plus a little retail therapy always does the trick!
An inspiring way to stay connected: Since 1994, this group of friends has met in a different city, following the alphabet…they call themselves the “A to Z” Club!
What keeps Patti Smith young: gratitude for her newest fans and curiosity: “…what makes a person more youthful is not their outward appearance…it’s nourishing that thing. That curiosity. I’ve always been curious.” Plus, she writes a newsletter!
Your 12 Good Years: the healthy, active years you have left are shorter than you think. A useful reminder about how to plan for a retirement that’s realistic and rewarding.
🤣The midlife joy of birding. IYKYK.🐦
Looking at these prize-winning dogs is a mood-booster! Zaida, the Afghan, and Graham, the English sheepdog, are my favorites.
I cannot stop thinking about the fact that babies and children were once sent through U.S. Mail. “I doubt the legality of the sending, but it was put on the train and I must deliver and report.”
“The best skill you can learn in life is how to stay in a good mood.”
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Coming up: the March giveaway, a genius parenting tip for teens and young adults, and the secret to hosting happily.
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