Amidst the current upheaval and uncertainty, there is something warmly reassuring about the consistency of the world continuing to turn. Now more than ever, we may find ourselves craving a sense of familiarity, while other aspects of our lives feel completely foreign.
I spoke to seasonal experts Gem Morson, Lucy Hill and Craig Hoareau about what characteristics of Spring we can tap into right now and how we can harness this energy to help us to check-in on our momentum so far in the year, declutter our to-do lists and inboxes and set a realistic pace for new growth.
In amongst the once-in-our-lifetime chaos of a global pandemic, it would be understandable if the marking of a new season had taken a backseat. In the past weeks, the Spring Equinox and changing of clocks have quietly occurred, heralding the arrival of warmer temperatures, longer days and brighter sunshine for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere.
If your ability to be outside and immersed in the emerging signs of Spring has been curtailed, allow award-winning seasonal food and lifestyle blogger Gem Morson of The Mothercooker to evoke them for you; “dappled light, the smell of cut grass, birds chirping, bees buzzing, everything turning green and beginning to come back to life.”
The seasons are “vitally important” to Morson’s work. She recently pivoted her food blog to a reflect a more seasonal offering, aligning with her other love of gardening.
“Spring is the busiest time in the gardening calendar. My house explodes with green and it makes me happy. I feel we have more energy and it’s easier to get up in the morning.”
For Bristol-based Lucy Hill, a seasonal coach for creativity seekers, “seasonality shapes my year, it provides the gentle guidance for how I choose to approach things.”
“Building purposeful momentum is a real theme that comes from this time of year. It’s a time for clarity of thinking with bright skies and bulbs blooming. The warmer weather and the sun being higher in the sky lifts my senses and I feel more connected. There is a wonderful energy at this time of year that I embrace.”
Professional organiser and life coach, Craig Hoareau from A Tidy Mind London echoes this: “Spring is like a rebirth for the planet after a long cold winter. There is a sudden shift in mentality where we want to finally do those things on our New Year’s resolution list!”
A Quarterly Opportunity to Pause, Reflect, Review and Refocus
Three months into the year, or a quarter down, the start of April offers us the chance to take stock of our progress to date. This opportunity to pause and reflect, getting clarity on what we can stop, start and continue is as relevant as ever in the current state of flux. The year you may have imagined unfolding before you in January is unlikely to be the reality you find yourself in now.
“For me, Spring is the time to evaluate who I am at this time and where I want to be. We grow every day, with new lessons and experiences that change our perspective and divert our journey slightly. I feel my goals should fit within that and grow with me now, not who I thought I was going to be,” shares Craig.
“One ritual I do every Spring is re-evaluation of where I am now and how far I am to where I need to be. Look at your New Year’s resolutions and see what you wanted to accomplish within the past 3 months. If you have not accomplished a few things, ask why? Perhaps they weren’t important? Maybe you were not ready, perhaps it was too much of a stretch for where you are now in your journey? Whatever the reason, evaluate what you have learned and re-plan, refocus and work toward accomplishing your goals.”
To find out how to undertake the quarterly check-in from the HUSTLE + hush RECAP + ROADMAP program, check out this blog post.
Lucy too, takes this as an opportunity to pause: “I reflect on the Winter and what the time looked like for myself, my job and my family. I highly recommend checking in on personal outcomes or goals at this time of year, there is still plenty of time to start any for the time ahead or reshape what you thought you wanted at the beginning of the year."
Kondo-ing Your Inbox and Decluttering Your To-Do List To Make Space and Reduce Anxiety
Synonymous with the changing season, is a good Spring clean. “Spring feels fresh, like a new beginning,” Gem says. “It’s a great time to clear out and get organised.”
“Sparking joy and making space are important to help move forwards with intention. I clear space for new things and to allow better focus for the things that I am keen to invest my time in,” explains Lucy, referencing the KonMari method pioneer, Marie Kondo.
“If you have a to-do list which is overflowing and impossible to complete or an inbox with hundreds of unread emails, then it’s time to evaluate. These things can cause mental clutter that blocks your thinking, causes stress and makes you anxious,” explains Craig. “A lot of the time we add things to our list that will eventually stay there for days, weeks or months. If it’s been there for a while, remove it! If you need to think about it then ask yourself, does this serve me right now? When you look at the task/activity how does it make you feel? You will quickly find your answer and solution. If your inbox is constantly filling up with emails, take some time to filter out the junk by unsubscribing and setting filters to reduce them coming into your inbox. Take control!”
Another candidate for a spot of Kondo-ing could be your CV or LinkedIn profile. Look out for an upcoming blog post, where we speak to talent and recruitment experts on how to spring clean your CV, specifically to demonstrate your leadership potential or elevate your positioning as a leader.
Set a Realistic Pace for Gentle and Gradual Growth
While Spring may be known for its new beginnings, there’s no need to rush to start or force results. Both Gem and Lucy advocate adopting a gentle and gradual approach to growth in keeping with the pace of Spring itself.
“Like the leaves, it’s time to unfurl and begin again. Be gentle with yourself, even if it’s taking a walk and listening to a podcast. Find inspiration in the little things,” offers Gem.
“In nature the plants and flowers grow gradually and flower heads open when they are ready, and at different times. The energy of Spring, and what is going on, can add momentum to creating new habits,” suggests Lucy.
“Perhaps new aspects of your career or work-life are beginning to make an appearance. The planning and thinking time of a hibernation during the Winter provided an opportunity to rest, and with Spring arriving it’s now time to take gentle action. Goals and outcomes don't get completed overnight, it takes work and growth to make it happen. Just like Spring, things happen when they are ready at their own pace.”
Thank you to Gem, Lucy and Craig for sharing their views on Spring with me.
If you would like to work with Tee to energise your career, reach out to set up a free introductory call and discuss coaching packages.