A Pocket-sized Guide to Spring

🌷 A Wee Guide to Spring Things--for when you're pressed for time but ready to relish the season. The Seasonalist's Guide goes up against Google Gemini's Spring Robot Guide. Who wore it best?

Welcome to the Seasonalist, a happy place to land, where you’ll find all things seasonal and seasonal-adjacent (books, movies, food, and fun) from Austin, Texas. If you’d like to subscribe, click below.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

“As the daffodils dance, so does the spirit of rebirth waltz into our hearts.” – William Wordsworth

I choose Spring! Over and over again, I choose Spring.

The Seasonalist is primarily a happy place to land, but it doesn’t mean that behind the scenes I’m not spiraling about the news and the stressors of life.

Seasonal Living is an excellent coping mechanism to alleviate what ails in our hearts and bodies. We can redirect our thoughts from the STUFF, to what’s actionable and heartfelt in our daily lives.

So if you’re struggling, here’s how to put a little Spring in Your Step when life seems stressful (see: the news) and busy (see: life). We do have control over how we choose to live and interact with others. So I choose to Spring!

6 Spring Essentials

1. Do Stuff

   If you’ve been here awhile, you know that I preach that “joyful anticipation” is the way to happiness. Look around and be thrilled by the seasonal things around you.

   
   What’s Springy in your neck of the woods?

   

   We had Imposter Syndrome and wanted a nicer kite than the garbage one we used. It was the kite—not user error.

2. Flowers

   Nothing says spring like flowers. Nothing. My personal favorite: The Hyacinth.

   

3. Return to a better time Could I be any more of a curmudgeon? “Back in my day, Spring was just daffodils, and playing outside. Now it’s an industry!”

   Keep things simple. Flowers, a treat, a classic spring book.

   

   Happiness everywhere all at once.

4. Lighten Up

   Lighten up your life, by cleaning, donating, and enjoying what you already own.

   💗 Colors! Look around your home and wardrobe and either remove things (literally lighten up) or change the color scheme. If you’ve been wearing black all winter (guilty), lighten up the wardrobe. I have lovingly put my corduroys away until next winter (obv I thanked them for their service). The Seasonalist made a mindful purchase at World Market—a new throw pillow (for my 25 year old reading chair which survived our 2019 house fire, so it’s VERY sentimental to me).

   

   This ugly !@## chair (but comfortable) is where I solve all of life’s problems. And read.

   🍽️ Another thought is lightening up your responsibility. What can you take off of your plate (or your family’s plate) so that you can create a little more space for Spring?

5. Breathe the Fresh Air (that is if wildfires aren’t contaminating the air like in Austin this past weekend). Debbie Downer. Refocus! Positivity! There is something about that fresh Spring air, which I call “San Francisco weather.” (IYKYK). Go for walks, sit outside at every opportunity, and dine al fresco.

6. And last but not least, not everything about Spring is pleasant. NAGGING TASKS loom. We’ve been hibernating and resting all winter. And now it’s time to address what we’ve been avoiding.

   The Seasonalist’s nagging tasks:

   🍂 Raking Leaves (spring in Austin is raking time)

   🚙 Deep cleaning the cars (Live Oak issues—if you live in the South, you know)

   🖌️ Tiny painting tasks: I need to repaint the front and back doors, and the front railing.

   💰 Taxes

   
   What are your Spring nagging tasks?

Read on below for a robot’s interpretation of Spring and some fabulous NON AI Spring reads.

• Some Lovely Springy Substacks! (REAL WRITING and superb seasonal living adjacent newsletters). From Petal & Hearth, How to Host the Perfect Spring Picnic. And from Brittany’s Notebook, Some Zing for Your Spring. And from the Mindful Mama, a Spring 2025 Bucket List.

• What AI has to say about Spring:

For !@#$ and giggles, I entered the search term “Spring Seasonal Living” into Google Gemini, and damn, this is kind of good! I hate to say it, but I think there is a popular substacker who publishes DAILY (which is impossible), and now I see that it’s just AI. The neutral dispassionate voice and the rote listing of things? Fascinating. LMAO because she’s got a TON of subscribers (including me). So let’s see what Google Gemini says about Spring? Here goes:

Google Gemini’s Guide to Spring

Spring seasonal living encompasses a holistic approach to aligning your lifestyle with the rhythms of the spring season. It's about embracing the renewal and growth that nature displays during this time. Here's a breakdown of key aspects:

Key Aspects of Spring Seasonal Living:

• Seasonal Eating:

  • Focus on fresh, in-season produce like asparagus, peas, strawberries, and leafy greens.

  • This provides optimal nutrients and supports local farmers.

  • Lighter, brighter meals help with the body's natural detoxification after winter.

• Connecting with Nature:

  • Spend more time outdoors to soak up sunlight and fresh air.

  • Engage in activities like gardening, hiking, or simply taking walks.

  • "Forest bathing" (shinrin-yoku) can be a calming and restorative practice.

• Home and Decor:

  • Bring the freshness of spring indoors with floral arrangements and bright colors.

  • Spring cleaning: declutter and organize your living space.

  • Use lighter fabrics and open windows to let in fresh air.

• Wellness and Self-Care:

  • Focus on detoxification and renewal through diet and skincare.

  • Embrace activities that boost energy and mood.

  • Set new goals and embark on fresh beginnings.

• Mindfulness:

  • Being aware of the changes in the natural world.

  • Taking time to appreciate the beauty of spring.

  • Using the energy of spring to start new projects, and to improve yourself.

In essence, spring seasonal living is about:

• Rejuvenation: Embracing the energy of renewal.

• Connection: Strengthening your bond with nature.

• Balance: Aligning your lifestyle with the natural rhythms of the season.

I hope this helps.

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That wasn’t bad, right?