Daylight savings time comes to town this weekend, signaling a shift in the seasons and shining a light on new possibilities. Longer days and warmer temperatures are perfect for rethinking stale habits and rebuilding lost boundaries. Try one (or all) of these hacks for a week and watch yourself spring into wellbeing:
Unplug: Enjoy long evenings and warm sunny days by taking time to completely unplug from the office. After work is a simple place to start, progress to weekends, then go pro with an actual vacation. Auto responders, outgoing messages and apps like Siesta Text help you fearlessly disconnect while keeping others in the loop.
Get Out: Anyone familiar with being easily distracted, forgetful and mentally flighty? This common condition, a result of busy schedules and endless distractions, is called “Brain Fatigue”. The good news is that studies show how experiencing green spaces allays this malady. Try taking a twilight walk, stretching those legs at lunch or having a meeting in a park or on a patio.
Go Green: If getting outside sounds good but isn’t really your jam, bring springtime inside with desk plants. Indoor plants (cacti count) are easy to care for and deliver bursts of “micro restoration”. These tiny refreshers lead to increased productivity, decreased stress and overall wellbeing.
Let’s face it, no matter how much love we have for winter, abundant darkness and freezing temperatures are limiting. Luckily, daylight savings time and spring come along; keeping the lights on after work and warming our cold bones. Use these simple hacks to take advantage of the shifting seasons; if you dial in clear and focused ways now, you’ll enjoy them all through the summer.