“Hush, Can you hear it?
The rustling in the grass,
Bringing you the welcome news
Winter’s day is past.
Soft, Can you feel it?
The warm caressing breeze,
Telling you the sticky buds
Are bursting on the trees.
Look, Can you see them?
The primrose in the lane,
Now you must believe it –
Spring is here again.”
– May Fenn
Yes, it is once again springtime as the temperatures rise, flowers bloom and the days get longer. The season is often seen as a time of growth and renewal, symbolized by the return of green to the trees. For Birmingham seniors, it is a time to shake off the winter chill and get some fresh air before the humidity of summer in the Deep South arrives.
There are tangible benefits to getting outside and soaking in some sunshine – but seniors need to embrace the great outdoors being mindful of their physical limitations and the risks associated with exposure.
Among those benefits:
Physical Fitness: Spending time outside encourages participation in activities that keep us moving, while sunshine raises levels of Vitamin D, which is critical to protecting bodies against bone problems, heart disease, and other health issues. Those who don’t get enough Vitamin D are more likely to suffer from osteoporosis, cancer, and Alzheimer’s.
Mental Well-Being: Stress levels fall within minutes of seeing green spaces. Connection to the natural world relieves people from a hurried lifestyle and feelings of isolation that result in anxiety and depression. There’s also the social interactions that come from being outside with others.
From an early age, many people form happy memories of unstructured playtime outdoors. It’s no wonder that stepping outside can lead to a quick burst of happiness, as found in a study from Glasgow University.
So what is there to do outside in the Springtime? Plenty!
Some possibilities include:
• Getting in the habit of taking daily walks.
• Spending time with grandchildren at the park.
• Taking in a Barons Baseball game at Regions Field.
• Fishing at Lake Purdy or East Lake.
• Visiting the Farmer’s Market on Finley Avenue, Pepper Place on 2nd Avenue or at UAB.
• Planting a garden to grow vegetables to eat or plants to use in arrangements.
• “Spring Cleaning” living quarters.
• Using the extra daylight to enjoy daytrips to fun places like the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, McWane Science Center, or the Southern Museum of Flight.
• Bird watching.
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To learn more about Regency, call us at (205) 942-3355.