Grief, stress, and overwhelm don’t take time off just because the sun shines bright.
For me, something about spring—the fresh air, the blooms, the longer days—reminds us that healing is possible, that growing with this grief is possible.
This season, I’m leaning into soft, straightforward ways to self-soothe.
Not in a way that demands perfection, not with long checklists, not like I would usually do. Just in the small, gentle moments that help me breathe easier, sleep better, and feel more like me again.
Here are some spring-inspired self-soothing practices that have helped me—and maybe they’ll help you, too. 💜
🌤 1. Step Outside and Let the Sun Touch Your Skin
Even five minutes outside can change the entire tone of my day.
There’s something about feeling the sun on my face, smelling the fresh air, and hearing birds sing that resets my nervous system. (Add some lawnmowers this summer, and I will hardly keep my eyes open!)
☀️ Sit on the porch and take in the sounds
☀️ Walk barefoot in the grass
☀️ Close your eyes and just breathe with the sun on your face
It doesn’t have to be significant. Just consistent. Let nature hold you for a minute.
🌧 2. Let Spring Rain Ground You
Not every spring day is sunny—and that’s okay.
There is something deeply soothing about the sound of a gentle rain hitting the roof or leaves. Warm spring rain can be cleansing, grounding, and even comforting. I will go stand in the rain any chance I get.
☔ Step out onto the porch and listen to the rainfall
☔ Crack a window and breathe in the fresh, earthy air
☔ Let a light drizzle fall on your skin barefoot in the yard
☔ Go take a walk in the rain
Rain doesn’t mean the day is ruined.
Sometimes, this is exactly what our nervous system needs—to slow down, reconnect, and let the heaviness rinse away for a little while.
🌿 3. Create a Spring “Calm Corner”
One of the most comforting things I’ve done is build a tiny, peaceful spot just for me.
🪻 A chair by the window
📚 A soft blanket
🕯 A calming candle or diffuser
📓 A notebook or journal
🦇A silly magnetic bat plushie that Garet had when he was little, keeping its eye on me.
This corner became a safe space when the world feels heavy, and tears threaten to roll down my face. It is the spot where I can breathe and reset, just for a minute.
Sometimes I write. Sometimes I just sit. But it reminds me that I’m allowed to slow down and tend to my heart. (And that is something I have never been good at doing for myself.)
🍓 4. Make Something With Your Hands (Even Something Silly!)
Spring brings color and light back into the world—why not bring it into your day?
✔ Bake something simple & sweet; add sprinkles to bling it up
✔ Plant flowers in a pot or tiny garden bed
✔ Make a DIY wreath
✔ Color with your kids or grab some adult coloring books
✔ Paint rocks and create a fun rock garden, or leave the completed rocks in public for others to find and enjoy.
There’s healing in creating. Even if it’s messy or imperfect, the act of making something beautiful can bring you back to center.
💧 5. Cold Water & Grounding Techniques
When anxiety feels like it’s creeping in (and it still does), cold water can help reset everything.
💧 Splash your face
💧 Step outside barefoot
💧 Run your hands under cool water
Then name:
- 5 things you see
- 4 things you can touch
- 3 things you hear
- 2 things you can smell
- 1 thing you can taste
It sounds simple, but it helps when everything feels too big.
📓 6. Talk to Yourself Like Someone You Love
This one? It’s been the hardest. Ridiculously hard. But the most important. (And the one I slip up the most with.)
🩵 “You’re doing your best.”
🩵 “It’s okay to rest.”
🩵 “You’ve made it through every hard day so far.”
🩵 “You aren’t doing this wrong”
Say it in the mirror. Whisper it in the car. Write it in a journal.
We are so good at showing kindness to others—we deserve it too.
🌸 Spring Is a Season of Renewal—Let Yourself Begin Again
You don’t need to be perfect, you don’t need to do it all, you don’t need to do anything at all; you just need to be you.
Just give yourself little glimmers of peace, one small breath at a time. Find your safe spaces. Find your community that can help you when you need it.
Let spring be a soft reminder that you’re allowed to feel good again. Our children want us happy again, even if it isn’t the same happy as before.
That healing is slow, but it’s happening.
And that joy, even if it’s small, still counts. 🌿
💬 What’s Your Favorite Way to Self-Soothe in Spring?
Drop it in the comments! Whether it’s gardening, walking barefoot, painting, or just napping with the windows open—I’d love to know what’s helping you soften into this new season. 💜
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