Author: Tiffany Campion

Springing forward 

The ice is melting, the chickadees are singing, and the days are growing longer. Spring may not have fully sprung yet figuratively or literally (the season technically begins with the vernal equinox on March 20 or March 21), but it’s certainly springing. Depending on where you live, it’s probably not time to put the winter boots and coats away for the season just yet – but! Before we know it, our surroundings will be in bloom once more.  

Another telltale sign of spring approaching: the annual switch-flip of Daylight saving time, or DST. Every year, on the second Sunday in March, DST begins when we advance our clocks forward by one hour, moving one hour of daylight from the morning to the evening, maximizing each day’s gradually increasing length. We unfortunately lose that extra hour of sleep we get when DST ends in the fall, but really, who needs that extra hour of sleep once breezy walks in the park and impromptu post-work hangs start to call our names? 

So…what now? 

After the cold darkness of winter, springtime is like a collective opportunity to yawn, stretch, shake it off, and start fresh. Adding that hour back at the end of the day might not feel like much, but that hour can go a long way. As the season ramps up, take this opportunity to plan ahead and provide yourself some personal daylight optimization structure – and yes, this absolutely applies to planning out pleasure and play, too. What could you use an extra hour for? An additional hour of daylight provides more chances to enjoy the great outdoors, refresh our routines, and most importantly, get together for IRL re-connection. To get you going, here are some suggestions for different ways you could spend yours touching grass this spring. 

🌱 Get your hands dirty 

Did you know science has shown that handling soil can increase our levels of serotonin, aka the natural chemical produced by our brains responsible for very important physiological functions like mood regulation, sleep quality, and wound healing? There’s no time like the spring to kick the last of those winter blues to the curb by gathering your friends for a planting party. Once you make a trip to your local dollar store or nursery for some pots, decoration materials, and seeds, you’re all set to watch your new friend grow more and more each day as you tend to it. But wait! It wouldn’t be gardening without some gardening, would it? Don’t forget your Experience Pack 😉

P.S.: For the perfect album to garden and garden to, look no further than Mort Garson’s whimsical and bucolic 1976 album Mother Earth: Plantasia, which he composed specifically for plants to listen to, inspired by his beloved wife’s green thumb. 

 🥏 Frisbee yourselves 

This one needs no explanation. Where did all of the frisbees go? And when did companies stop giving them out as promotional swag? For the low price of $0-10, a simple flying disc can satisfy your friend group’s inner children while providing hours and hours of entertainment (and cardio) – and it’s high time non-dog owning adults reclaim them socially.

Walk it out 🚶‍♀️ 

Human beings have been walking for millions of years. Even with the smartphones, running water, and electricity we have today, there’s something oddly comforting about knowing that every time we walk, we’re participating in one of the earliest defining human traits: good old-fashioned bipedalism. Is there ever a bad time for a walk? Can’t say that there is, but a really nice time to walk is the pre-summer sweet spot where a light jacket or hoodie will do, and we won’t be sopping from sweat by the end. Aimless walking is always an option, but a walk with intention provides an extra mood boost. Queue up an album you’ve been meaning to check out, meet a friend at a nearby checkpoint and make your walk a hang, save some money by walking somewhere you would have cabbed or driven, or call someone you’ve been meaning to catch up with. The hottest invite in town is the world around us, so grab a bev to go, get out there, and soak it all in. 

Balance is everything. 

With the extra hours we have until it’s once again time to fall back this November, if your heart calls you to experience the outdoors – follow it. But if you’re still defrosting from winter and your ideal way to spend your extra daylight is getting another Gossip Girl comfort binge rewatch episode in, take your time and pat yourself on the back just for making it to longer days. After all, we’ll have all summer for sips and strolls.