Are you feeling tired and uninspired after months of cold weather and short days?
Don't worry, spring is here to energize and renew you! It's the perfect time to say goodbye to winter blues and welcome the vibrant vibes of this season. In this blog post, we'll explore some practical tips and ideas to help you break out of the winter rut and embrace the joys of spring. Get ready to brighten up your life with the freshness and positivity that spring brings!.
Spring To-Do List:
The Classic Spring Clean:
With spring in the air, it's the perfect time to tackle a good old spring clean and get rid of those winter cobwebs. Don't worry, it may sound like a cliche, but it really does make a difference! Just take it one room at a time, declutter and use Pinterest and TikTok to find some fantastic organisation tips that will help you transform your spaces. Let that fresh air in by opening the windows and why not sage smudge your rooms to get rid of any bad energy? Trust us, you'll be amazed at how a clean and organised space can positively impact your mood and transform your outlook on life for the coming warmer months.
Sustainable Top Tip:
Cleaning products are full of harsh chemicals and plastic packaging, we recommend checking out Plastic Freedom to find some fantastic sustainable switches before you bust out the bleach and sprays.
Develop a New Hobby:
Starting something new doesn't have to wait until January. With spring just around the corner, it's the perfect time to explore new hobbies or activities that spark your interest. From getting in tune with nature in your garden to painting, photography, or playing a musical instrument, engaging in a creative pursuit can offer a fun and refreshing escape from the winter blues.
Time for you:
It's so easy to get caught up in our busy lives and forget to take care of ourselves. But it's super important to make self-care a priority to keep our minds and bodies feeling good.
Why not take some time to pamper yourself? Whether it's taking a yoga class, meditating, taking a long soak in the tub, or treating yourself to a spa day, find something that makes you feel relaxed and get that spring back in your step.
Remember, self-care isn't selfish - it's essential for your overall well-being!
Places to visit in spring:
Isn't it amazing to see nature burst into life after the long winter slumber? If you get the chance, we'd highly recommend planning a visit to some of these iconic spring destinations:
Tulip Fields - Netherlands 🌷
If you're planning a trip to The Netherlands, we highly recommend visiting during the spring season. It's undoubtedly the perfect time to experience the country's natural beauty in its full glory. During this time, the days start getting longer, and the weather becomes more pleasant with plenty of sunshine. The streets are bustling with life, and the beautiful flowers are in full bloom, especially the infamous tulip fields, creating a stunning and picturesque view.
One of the best things about visiting The Netherlands during the spring is that you can explore some of the most amazing cities in Europe. You can visit Amsterdam, the capital city, and enjoy its rich culture, history, and arts. Or you can explore Rotterdam, the largest port city in Europe, where you can see the famous Cube Houses and the stunning Erasmus Bridge.
Moreover, you can also take a stroll through the countryside, where you will find the most beautiful landscapes. You can rent a bike and explore the countryside at your own pace or take a boat ride through the canals. Trust us; you won't be disappointed with the Netherlands' natural beauty during spring.
Cherry Blossom Festival - Japan 🌸
Spring in Japan is a season that runs from March to May. As winter fades away and the cold weather gives way to warmer temperatures, Japan comes to life in a flurry of activity and energy, attracting travellers from all over the world who are eager to experience the beauty of spring in Japan.
One of the most iconic and beloved symbols of spring in Japan is the cherry blossom. When the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, their delicate pink petals flutter in the breeze, creating a dreamy atmosphere that fills you with a sense of wonder and joy. Many foreign tourists flock to places like Ueno Park in Tokyo to take leisurely walks and snap photos of the breathtaking scenery.
But cherry blossoms are just the beginning of what you can expect on your spring vacation in Japan. From delicious seasonal foods to thrilling festivals and cultural events, there is so much to see and do during this vibrant and lively season. Whether you're looking to explore the bustling streets of Tokyo or venture off the beaten path to discover hidden gems, Japan in spring is a truly unforgettable experience.
Holi – Northern India 🇮🇳
Holi is an annual Hindu festival celebrated in Northern India that is known for its vibrant and lively atmosphere. The festival is marked by participants playfully throwing coloured powder at one another, which represents the arrival of spring and pays homage to various events from Hindu mythology of good winning over evil. The festival typically lasts for a full day and night and is a joyous celebration of the end of winter and the arrival of the spring growing season.
Amongst the joyful festivity, Holi can be quite chaotic and intense for a tourist. Definitely, do your own research before attending the festival to ensure its an experience you want to attend because everyone is different, it may or may not be your cup of tea. Besides, it's worth noting that Holi is celebrated in other parts of the world, including Nepal, Sri Lanka, and even parts of the United States and Europe.
Book suggestions:
The Unexpected Joy of Being Single by Catherine Gray
Self-help Book
About: Over a third of us are now single. With the single camp growing at ten times the rate of the actual population, it is now the norm to be single well into our thirties - the average marriage age for women is 35 and 37 for men. But nobody seems to have told society, romcom makers, songwriters, marriage-hungry mothers, 'tick-tock' uncles, our mates or us that.
Catherine Gray went through all of this. And then some. She took a whole year off dating to get her love-hooked head straight. How do we chill our boots about our single status? Detach from 'all the good ones are gone!' panic? And de-programme from urgent, red, heart-shaped societal pressure to find your 'other half * '? We know intellectually that single is far preferable to panic-settling, yet we forget that almost constantly. Why? Psychologists and neuroscientists tell us? Let's start the reverse-brainwash and locate our happily-single sanity, for good. Are you in?
* you're already a whole person.
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
Feminist Fiction
About: Teeming with life and crackling with energy — a love song to modern Britain and blackwomanhood
Girl, Woman, Other follows the lives and struggles of twelve very different characters. Mostly women, black and British, they tell the stories of their families, friends and lovers, across the country and through the years.
Joyfully polyphonic and vibrantly contemporary, this is a gloriously new kind of history, a novel of our times: celebratory, ever-dynamic and utterly irresistible.
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Fiction
About: In a small back alley in Tokyo, there is a café which has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. But this coffee shop offers its customers a unique experience: the chance to travel back in time.
In Before the Coffee Gets Cold, we meet four visitors, each of whom is hoping to make use of the café’s time-travelling offer, in order to: confront the man who left them, receive a letter from their husband whose memory has been taken by early onset Alzheimer's, to see their sister one last time, and to meet the daughter they never got the chance to know.
But the journey into the past does not come without risks: customers must sit in a particular seat, they cannot leave the café, and finally, they must return to the present before the coffee gets cold.