Spring into Spring: 7 Ways To Refresh Your Body After Winter

Winter encourages us to slow down. And usually, that's exactly what we need.

But after months of spending more time indoors, sitting for longer periods and moving our bodies less, we find ourselves emerging into spring feeling a little less springy.

A stiff neck when you wake up, tight shoulders after a day at work, more headaches than usual. Or maybe you've become accustomed to these little aches and discomforts that you don’t even question them anymore.

As humans, we can’t escape coming into contact with pain, but that doesn’t mean we should simply accept feeling uncomfortable everyday.

Spring is the perfect time to check in with our bodies and ask: what small changes could I make to help my body feel better? Because when your body feels good, everything else follows.

Now, I’m not talking about a dramatic new exercise regime or a complete lifestyle overhaul. Sometimes we forget how much of a big impact small change can have.

1. Start moving again

If winter has meant more sitting and less activity, don't feel like you need to go from zero to five workouts a week.

Start with movement your body enjoys. Take a short walk in the spring sunshine, try a new activity or take the time to stretch your muscles after your day. 

2. Pay attention to the little aches

That stiff neck you've been waking up with? The shoulders you constantly find yourself rubbing? The headache that seems to appear after hours at your desk?

Instead of automatically pushing through discomfort, spring can be a good time to become curious about it.

Notice when you're uncomfortable. After sleeping? After working? After driving? At the end of the day?

Identifying the situations that aggravate discomfort is the first step towards changing it.

3. Look at your workspace

You don't need an elaborate ergonomic office to make your working day kinder to your body.

Check where your screen sits, notice whether you're constantly looking down at a laptop, check whether your chair actually supports you, move things you use regularly within easy reach and most importantly, change position regularly.

Even a beautifully ergonomic setup can't compensate for staying in exactly the same position for hours.

4. Look at where you're sleeping

We spend hours every night with our head and neck resting on one small piece of bedding. Yet the pillow is often one of the last things we think about when something starts hurting.

Which brings us to an important spring-cleaning question...when did you last replace your pillow?

Be honest. Can you actually remember?

We find a pillow we like and then...keep it. But pillows don't last forever.

Night after night they're compressed under the weight of our head. Materials gradually lose their shape and support, while the pillow itself accumulates moisture, oils, skin cells, dust and everything else that comes with being slept on for thousands of hours.

Eventually, the pillow you're keeping because “it's comfortable” may no longer be supporting you the way it once did.

Take your pillow off the bed and have a proper look at it. Is it flattened? Lumpy? Discoloured? Does it spring back into shape? Does your head sink into it differently than it used to? And, perhaps most importantly: are you regularly waking with neck pain or stiffness?

If the answer is yes, it might be time to reconsider what you're sleeping on and to give your body somewhere better to recover.

Sleep isn't simply the part of the day when we're not moving. It's our opportunity to rest and recover. And if you're already dealing with neck pain or discomfort during the day, the last thing you want is eight hours spent in a position that aggravates it.

At Neck's Best Thing, that's exactly why we're so passionate about helping people find the right support for their body.

5. Create an evening wind down routine

Better days begin with better nights.

After a day of working, driving, looking at screens and simply getting through life, it's not unusual to climb into bed still carrying some of the tension from the day.

Taking some time at the end of the day to have a calming cup of tea and do some gentle stretching is a lovely way to transition into rest and signal your body that it is time to relax. We find that our therapeutic neck and shoulder heat pack is a wonderful addition to this evening ritual helping relax and unwind tight muscles from all they have been carrying through the day.

6. Check what you’re carrying

Handbags, laptop bags, work gear and even an overloaded tote can add unnecessary strain when they're carried the same way day after day.

Have a spring clean of your everyday bag. Take out what you don't need, lighten the load where you can and avoid always carrying weight on the same side. It's one of those tiny everyday things that's easy to overlook.

7. Take your stress seriously

Not every tight neck starts with the way you're sitting. Stress can show up physically too - clenched jaws, raised shoulders and muscles that seem permanently switched on. If you notice you're carrying tension through your neck and shoulders, consider what helps your whole body unwind.

That might be a quiet walk in nature, a warm bath, practicing slow, rhythmic  breathing or spending quality time with friends and family.

 

So this spring, open the windows. Get outside. Move your body. But also pay attention to what it's telling you. You don't need to emerge from winter as an entirely new person, just make a few small changes that help you move better, sleep better and feel better heading into summer.