Unfortunately, the Groundhog did see his shadow this year, which meant six more weeks of winter for the students at S.H.S. Although these last six weeks have been cruel, there is no appropriate way to move forward other than to celebrate the approach of springtime. We collectively understand that spring self-care can be exciting and relaxing as we roll into the warmer months. So here is a list of five spring-related self-care activities to pump up the spring atmosphere.

1. Go for a walk or run outside.

Since the sun finally decided to show itself, now would be the perfect time to go outside in nature. According to the American Psychological Association, spending time in nature is linked to both cognitive benefits and improvements in mood, mental health, and emotional well-being. Junior Hailey Bielema says her favorite outdoor activity is running when the weather is nice. “Since the weather is getting warmer, I like to take my workouts outside and go for a run to enjoy the fresh air,” said Bielema.

2. Clean out your room/any space.

Although cleaning is not the most exciting activity moving into a new season, it is important to clean out your personal space after a long and grueling winter. This space doesn’t just have to be your room. Think about other personal spaces such as your car, bookbag, bathroom, and any other space that is intimate to you. 

3. Treat yourself to ice cream with friends/family. 

Ice cream is a great way to treat yourself to a new season, and getting to experience it with friends and family is a great way to appreciate springtime. For some ideas, Dairy Queen in Rock Falls is now open, and Arthur’s frozen yogurt sounds better than ever while the weeks get warmer.

4. Experience a new place.

A great way to get out of the house during the springtime is to experience a new place. For you and your friends, one idea is to go hiking on a new trail or even on Westwood’s trails. Sterling also has a new donut cafe coming soon located next to Airplay. It’s a perfect place to get out and spend time at one of Sterling’s new businesses. Even something as simple as driving to Starbucks and getting a refresher is a great way to treat yourself to a new season. 

5. Go shopping. 

One of the perfect ways to begin a new season is to revamp your wardrobe. The transition from winter to spring is a great feeling; however, the transition of warm puffer coats and sweatpants compared to tank tops and shorts forces you to clean out past year’s wardrobes. Now that your closet is cleaned out, there is no better way to treat yourself other than to go shopping. Senior Julia Thormeyer said, “I love shopping. It is my favorite thing to do. I love getting my paychecks from work and doing some retail therapy.”

All in all, there are many great things to experience now that springtime is here. Whether you’re enjoying some time outside or trying a new treat, there is no better way to approach the warmer months.