How to spring-clean your wellness routine

It’s been a (very) long winter, but spring is finally on the horizon. With the arrival of a new season comes a fresh opportunity to shake up your routine, and while this might traditionally mean prepping for some spring-cleaning, why not focus on your wellbeing routine instead?

Whether you have well-established habits that need a refresh, or you just want to incorporate some small moments of wellbeing into your day, these five easy, quick steps could help.

It’s a message that’s been drilled into us since childhood – and for good reason. Drinking H2O is important for our health and wellbeing. NHS guidelines recommend we glug between six and eight glasses a day to help stay hydrated. Our bodies are made up of around 60% water, after all, so drinking plenty of it can help maintain that balance, while aiding digestion, circulation and brain function.

Experts also recommend a glass of water first thing in the morning, when you wake up, to kickstart your metabolism and aid digestion. You could try keeping a tumbler by your bed to fix this in place as a part of your rise-and-shine routine.

Want to make drinking water feel a bit more… exciting? We like the idea of a fancy water bottle or a carafe to keep on your desk while working from home. And don’t forget that the water in other drinks, such as squash and tea, counts, too.

Let’s be honest: getting more sleep would probably be at the top of most of our wellbeing wishlists. After all, there’s no denying the power of a good snooze, from improving concentration to reducing stress levels and boosting the immune system. But with the word ‘insomnia’ being Googled more in 2020 than ever before, it’s clear we’re not all resting as easily as we might like. Who can blame us, with all that’s happened over the last few years?

Happily, help is at hand. If you’re struggling to drift off, you can switch up your routine by trying this simple breathing exercise or by giving journaling a go. Both should be more efficient than simply counting sheep…

The days are getting longer and the sun might (finally) start to make an appearance, so why not make the most of spring in all its glory? Being in nature has been found to have a whole host of wellbeing benefits, from improved mood to lowered stress levels.

You don’t need to spend a whole day outside to reap the benefits. Incorporating a daily lunchtime walk among trees or flowers or across grass into your wellness routine could be beneficial, or you could spruce up your indoor greenery by bringing the concept of ‘plant bathing’ into your home. 

Why not spring-clean your skillset as well as your wellbeing routine? Learning something new has a surprisingly vast number of potential wellbeing benefits, from boosting your confidence to elevating your self-esteem and giving you a feeling of purpose.

And the sky’s the limit when it comes to what you can actually learn. It could be as simple as trying out a new recipe or picking up some craft skills, or you might want to look at signing up to a longer-term course or even taking on a new project or responsibility at work. 

Like it or loathe it, there’s no denying the benefits of exercise. Not only can it help to keep us physically fit, but it has the potential to boost our wellbeing, all while giving us a sense of purpose, improving our confidence and helping to connect us with others through group sports or activities.

So why not shake up your wellbeing routine by setting yourself a challenge such as completing Couch to 5k, trying some Pilates moves at home or lacing up your walking shoes and heading off on a hike? Add some mood-boosting music to your playlist and you'll be good to go.