The seasonal shift means adopting new routines and facing fresh challenges. But there are ways to be at your best throughout
Winter is finally over, and you’re not just imagining that the warmer, brighter weather has refilled your tank. Sunlight energises us emotionally because it reduces production of the hormone melatonin, which promotes sleep but also lowers mood, says sleep coach Tracy Hannigan*. ‘We might feel more social and energetic – it’s like coming out of hibernation.’
But while spring provokes a sigh of relief in us Brits, there are downsides too. Perhaps you’re feeling off-kilter since the clocks went forward? Or is the prospect of all those bank holiday weekends tiring you out already? Here’s how to avoid falling at the first fair-weather hurdle. >>
TACKLE THE SPRING SWITCH
Harness your renewed motivation, adapt fast and make this season live up to its potential.
1. Top up on vitamin D
In early spring, vitamin D levels can be at their lowest, as your body will have diminished stores. Sunlight is the best source – so get outside on sunny days to top up. Just 10-15 minutes of sun exposure with arms and face uncovered provides enough.
FIX IT: USE THE SHADOW TEST To stimulate your body to produce vitamin D, the sun needs to be high enough in the sky. You can tell if you’re manufacturing vitamin D or not by checking the length of your shadow. The rough rule goes that if your shadow is taller than you are, then there isn’t enough sunlight.
2. Swerve bank holiday sickness
Did you know that ‘leisure sickness’ is a thing? Headaches, colds, sickness, aches and pain, and low energy are more common when you take time off**. ‘When you’re rushing about getting everything ready for your bank holiday break, stress hormones are released that stimulate the immune system, so your body is basically in fighting mode,’ says stress expert professor Cary Cooper. ‘But when you start your break and stress subsides, those immune cells retreat, making you more vulnerable to illness.’
FIX IT: WIND DOWN GENTLY ‘Don’t go from 100 miles an hour to a screeching halt, which puts your body in a state of shock,’ says professor Cooper. ‘Instead, have a day or two of “slow relaxation” before any holiday.’
3. Shop seasonally
It may feel like chocolate has been stacked on the shelves ever since the run-up to Christmas, but a diet lacking in fresh, nutritious ingredients can leave you prone to illness and fatigue. Instead, stock up on spring vegetables like asparagus, spinach, cauliflower, purple-sprouting broccoli, spring greens and watercress, wh
