Good At Life

6 ways to ‘spring’ back to a happier you.

New York Life | April 22, 2021

Updated March 11, 2024

As winter comes to an end, we’re starting to imagine life out in the sunshine. But we’ve been hibernating for so long that now is the ideal time to embrace change and try something new. Here we suggest six ways to hit the refresh button for spring.

1. Get fit with a friend

If you want to save on the cost of gym membership but are bored of the same old routine, set yourself new targets to keep motivated. There are lots of personal training apps, like Apple Fitness and Classpass, to help you. Better still, team up with a buddy. You’ll share the pain – and the fun.

2. Try a new sport

Getting active is good for you but did you know that just 30 minutes of exercise a day will make you live longer?¹ A great way of getting that exercise – with the added mental health benefit of social contact – is by taking up a new sport. How about tennis or Ultimate Frisbee? These activities are fun and sociable – you can reward yourself with a beverage in the sunshine when you’ve finished!

3. Get back to nature

Greater exposure to natural environments is associated with better health and well-being, especially if you live in the city.² So get back to nature. You don’t have to take a special trip to a state park or wildlife refuge. Even in urban areas, you’ll be surprised at the green spaces on your doorstep, from parks to beaches. For example, New York City boasts several wildlife havens, from Brooklyn’s Prospect Park to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Queens.

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4. Try a new diet

Eating well is strongly linked to a host of health benefits, including a longer life.³ Take the “Mediterranean diet,” which simply means eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, and going easy on sugar, red meat, and processed food. Cutting down takeout orders should also mean a healthier wallet.

5. Get some (head)space

Spring is the season of renewal and rebirth -- so why not make it the time to improve your surroundings? One study found that people who cleaned up their homes increased their productivity and ability to focus.⁴ A further study found that long-term exposure to clutter can even cause chronic stress.⁵

6. Learn the lingo

Why not set yourself a new challenge? Don’t be too ambitious – make it achievable. You probably won’t win the Masters next year if you’ve never swung a golf club. Make small, sustainable changes, things you can keep doing – this way they’re more likely to stick. How about learning a new language? Using an app like Duolingo, try to learn a few new words a day.

As the old saying goes, “feel the fear and do it anyway.” So try something new!

1 Want to Live Longer? For Just 30 Minutes a Day, Do Anything Else But Sit. Ducharme, Jamie. Time. Accessed 01 April 2021.

2 Spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing. White, Matthew. P, et al. Nature. 13 June 2019. Accessed 31 March, 2021.

3 Interactions of top-down and bottom-up mechanisms in human visual cortex. National Library of Medicine. McMains, Stephanie. 12 January 2011. Accessed 01 April 2021.

4 Stress: Endocrine Physiology and Pathophysiology. Tsigos, Constantine et al. National Center for Biotechnology Information. 17 October 2020. Accessed 01 April 2021.

5 Try something new for 30 days. Cutts, Matt. TED2011. March 2011. Accessed 01 April 2021.