Six Simple Pleasures To Savour This Spring

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by Anna Brech |
Published on

This week marks the official start of spring (in celestial terms).

And, just like Julie Andrews in the Austrian meadows, we're alive to the possibility of change and development (well OK, perhaps not with all those tremulous high notes).

From growing your own window box herbs to de-cluttering your mind and exploring your local farmer's market, we give you six simple pleasures to revel in this spring.

Relax - the sun is on its way...

1. Take a hike

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Walking is one of nature's finest elixirs. It's free, healthy and releases those feel-good endorphins without having to pound the pavement in a serious way.

With the season in bloom and the sun making a bit of an effort at last, there's no better time to part ways with your sofa and embrace the Glorious Outdoors.

Check out the National Trust's top walks to try this spring, for inspiration aplenty.

2. Slim down your wardrobe

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Goodbye chunky knits! See ya later, tights!

Spring is a brilliant time to give your wardrobe a trim, not least because you can bid farewell to your winter threads in the process.

Borrow from the world-famous Marie Kondo wisdom to do this. She says we should focus not on what we want to throw away, but what we want to keep.

Feel each item in your wardrobe and ask yourself, "Does this spark joy?" If it doesn't, it's time for that piece to find a better home in a charity shop or recycling bin.

It sounds a bit bonkers but it's a surprisingly instinctive approach to getting rid of stuff; you should know straight away whether you really like it or not.

With a pared-back wardrobe, you'll be less physically weighed down by the space you inhibit.

3. Free your mind

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Once you've tackled physical possessions, it's time to look at creating some head space.

One way of doing this is to take control of the amount of tech you have going on in your life. You could follow the lead of Google employees and reign in your online life by undergoing a "digital Sabbath" or digital 5:2.

Or, simply free up the hold your phone has over you by putting it in another room overnight and turning off your work email.

Mindfulness is another great way to slow things down and create a little room to think. Get started with the free intro sessions on the smash-hit meditation app Headspace.

3. Grow your own herbs

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It's the kind of bucolic fantasy that seems a bit beyond reach, but creating your own window box of edible garnishes is an easy enough feat.

Herbs are tenacious and don't require much TLC to flourish - good news for those of us who tend to accidentally kill any plants that come our way. Green-living site the Ecologist recommends getting started with sage, rosemary, thyme, mint and parsley.

Refresh their soil or potting compost now and again and you'll be showering your grub with homegrown seasoning in no time.

Learn more about how to maintain a window box, and grow flowers and plants in it, right here.

5. Hit up your local farmers' market

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There's no better way of whiling away a weekend afternoon than by exploring the bounty of your local farmers' market.

And there's no better time to do it than in spring, a time of huge seasonal abundance. Load up on homegrown rhubarb, savoy cabbage, artichokes and purple sprouting broccoli. Get your herb fix from the likes of sorrel, rocket, chicory and chillies.

Basically, the whole event is an opportunity to channel your inner Rachel Khoo, Parisian-style, by perusing the stalls for the very best of artisan local produce.

Most markets will have crafts and street food on the go too, so it's a win-win proposition all round. Find your nearest market here.

6. Carve out a creative space

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Spring is a time for new projects and ventures, so harness this energy by building your very own space for creative thinking. This doesn't need to be big or fancy - you can craft it using a nook underneath a staircase or by reclaiming your shed.

Pinterest is your friend when it comes to design inspiration; it's overflowing with ideas for chic (and tiny) home offices. Houzz UK and Design Sponge will also help you to get started.

Depending on where your passions lie, this space could even be a reading nook or an art desk, rather than a straight-forward work space.

Whatever you decide to do, breathe life into your space with fairy lights, cushions, pot plants and your favourite photos or postcards.

Et voilà: your very own den to get thinking in.

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