Despite the arrival of spring, March has always felt like the longest month to me. I remember last year’s vernal equinox vividly. I was entering my third trimester of pregnancy, laboring through teaching in a month with no days off, and surrounded by stale gray piles of snow and the promise of mud season, New England’s version of early spring. I was desperate for a change – my baby, sunshine, something – to break the monotony.

At a prenatal yoga class, my teacher said something that intrigued me. She said that it was common to feel anxious and restless at this time of year. After all, most of us have been trapped inside, nesting and keeping warm. It’s only natural to want to escape confinement, both physically and mentally. This may be why so many people start exercising in the spring, or get the urge to clean or rearrange the furniture in their house. She pointed out, however, that it may not be best to jump out of routines that have been the norm for the past four months. Give yourself time, take things slowly. This is especially true for moms and yes, you moms-to-be are included in this.

We all know by now that our to-do lists will never get done. For every item we cross off, two new ones sprout up in its place – sounds like the old myth about pulling out a gray hair. Yet most of us plug away anyway, booking up any and all free time we have with commitments, both inside and outside of our homes.

But stop for a moment and look at how spring comes upon us. Yes, it technically begins one day when there are almost equal amounts of day and night – but its approach is much softer, steadier and slower.  Days gradually get lighter and longer, as buds turn to blooms. Here are some tips for keeping your commitments in check and – literally – stopping to smell the flowers.

1.      

Map out your big tasks. Over the winter, we tend to accumulate stuff. Whether it’s from holiday gifts we haven’t processed or the attic and basement are too cold to organize, it seems like by the time March rolls around so many of our homes are bursting at the seams. Don’t attempt to tackle it all at once. Dedicate one weekend to each room that needs attention. Plan it out, write it on the calendar. Chances are, you won’t need the entire weekend, and you’ll end up buying yourself some free time.

2.      

Notice the newness. For the past several days it has been unseasonably warm in our area. I’ve taken the opportunity to take my daughter outside and look for flowers poking up through the ground. I’m nowhere close to an expert, so the extent of our observations is “Look at the purple ones! Those weren’t there yesterday.” You’ll be amazed at how much change sprouts up with each passing day.

3.      

Get moving. This is where it’s best to start slowly. I learned this the hard way when I decided to go for a way-too-fast run after three months off. It’s easy to come home from work and start making dinner or doing laundry because that’s what most of us are used to doing. But that’s easy – not fun. Take five minutes, and take your kids outside for a walk around the block – or race each other around the house if you’re really pressed for time. Take advantage of the daylight and spend the extra sun-filled minutes getting some exercise and some vitamin D.

4.      

Stir up routines. Stir…don’t shake! We rely on rituals – they keep us efficient and provide comfort and reassurance. You don’t need to turn your world upside down, but maybe change one or two things a week that can improve your well-being. Instead of spending fifteen minutes on your hair in the morning, rock a bun or ponytail and sit down and sip your coffee.

5.      

Share, share, share. The word I really want to use here is delegate, but many of us are notoriously bad at that, aren’t we? Let’s just admit it: we like to do things ourselves, so that we know they are done…and done right. But for the sake of spring and celebrating new life and rebirth, choose one thing you can delegate that won’t stress you out. Ask your teenagers to sort the laundry into piles. See if you can get in on a carpool for after-school activities. Ask your spouse to dust or vacuum. And take those extra minutes to simply enjoy the season.