Ask Robina - March 28, 2023

Dear Robina, 

The change of seasons always throws me a little off, both personally and professionally. Do you have any advice to help me work through the late winter blahs and spring fever?

Signed – Time Change Hangover 

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Hello My Friend, 

The transition of seasons can get even the best of us.  I hope you are resting and taking time for yourself.  I don't have a magical answer but will share the changes in my routine when the time change arrives.   

To use a little humor, here is how you can tap into an inner  SNOB to get back in alignment. 

Sleep 

Sleep can be an unfortunate casualty of clocks skipping forward one hour in the spring.  Our bodies are used to staying up until a certain time and the tendency is to honor the inner clock even if the clock on the wall is telling you it is time to get some Zs. Getting to bed at your regular time (not what the body is acclimated to) is key to ensuring you have a full night's sleep.  During the night, your body is working to support healthy brain function and maintain your physical health. Lack of sleep results in lethargy, eating more, and a decrease in mental functions.   

If you are struggling to get to bed, try adjusting your evening routine to get to start your evening routing 10 or 15 minutes earlier than the night before.  Turn the tv off, set a timer for the dark mode on your cell, or just ask the ones you live with to support you in shutting down early.   

Nutrition

Studies have shown that one less hour of sleep can result in eating an additional 200 calories a day.  Not one to judge and as a person who appreciates a bar of good dark chocolate now and then  - are you eating to nourish your body?  Choosing consumption over nutrition can work against what you are trying to accomplish.  A fast fix, caffeine, alcohol, or sweets might give you a short-term jolt but result in additional drops in energy and mood.   

If you are feeling the pull on your time and doing the shopping, preparation, and cooking adds to your list of to-dos get creative.  Consider the following options: 

• Delivery from a local restaurant and order their fit special. 
• Grocery delivery – More stores are offering delivery and a few clicks on the keyboard can accomplish an hour of shopping. 
• Curbside Pickup – Want to save a few extra dollars and time? This is a great alternative.  While you wait for your groceries you can take some time for yourself. 
• Meal Prep – If your budget allows and you live in an area where personal chefs are it might be worth the money (and decreased stress) to have meals delivered a few nights a week.  
  

Outdoors

The great outdoors is calling you.  Live in a big city?  No problem, nature can be found wherever you are.  Regardless of rain, snow, or sun a few moments outside in the fresh air can do wonders to lift your mood.  It is easy to get caught up in the tiny screen of our computers and forget there is a world happening outside the walls of a home.  I know my problems feel a little less big when I get outside and let some air in. 

Studies show that being outside in nature is relaxing and reduces stress, cortisol levels, muscle tension, and heart rates.  And, if you are wondering, how to fit all the “outdoor time” into your schedule I have some good news.  Research indicates that two hours a week of being outdoors showed increased benefits over those who didn’t get outside.  

Two hours over one week!  120 minutes over 7 days is less than 20 minutes a day.   

You can check the box on this one by getting groceries delivered or standing next to your car at curbside pickup.   

Breathing

So you are low on sleep, nutrition looks more one-note than the colorful diagram of suggested food groups, and the weather is keeping you from venturing outside.  What is left? 

Breathing.  

It is inexpensive (free), easy to do, and you don’t have to go anywhere or purchase special equipment to make it happen.  Take some deep breaths right now. 1 – 2- 3.  . In their book, The Healing Power of the Breath, doctors Richard P. Brown and Patricia L. Gerbarg write: “Studies are revealing that, by changing the patterns of breathing, it is possible to restore balance to the stress response systems, calm an agitated mind, relieve symptoms of anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), improve physical health and endurance, elevate performance, and enhance relationships.” 

If you need a little incentive or accountability, then a breathwork circle might be a great option.  A longtime fan of breathwork (I attend breathwork circles online) the benefits on my mental state (decrease in anxiety) and body (less physical pain) make this a must-have in my toolbox of life.   

Breathing may even be worthy of being listed first as it helps with sleep, nutrition, and a renewed desire to be outdoors. 

Conclusion

Time to embrace an inner SNOB and make sleep, nutrition, outdoors, and breathing your friends.  Keep in mind that you are a cyclical creation the same as the seasons and you aren’t meant to run at the same speed all the time.  Listen to your body and honor its needs as it transitions from one season to the next. Finding a rhythm with the world around you may create some ease and lift the blahs.   

Wishing you well as we transition into spring and all the new life that comes with it. 

With Gratitude,
Robina

Robina is a Soul, Self, Wealth Doula, Certified Money Coach, and retired CPA.  She works with successful leaders to guide them as they transform into Soul-cess-full leaders,  Each of these journeys is unique and the alignment of goals and reality allows for authentic relationships across all spectrums of one’s life, including money.  If you want to know more about Robina, you can visit her at www.robinabennion.com. 

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