BLOOMING | Wellness for Makers: Boost Your Mood this Spring

Photo: Inscape

Sometimes you need to put your work down, step out of the studio, and try something new to shift your perspective, gain some inspiration, and move forward with momentum. Here are three ways to boost your mood this spring!

Try Meditating Regularly

Meditating can seem intimidating to a lot of people. They might wonder if they are doing it wrong, or if it goes against what they believe, but I’m not talking about sitting cross-legged for hours on end trying to escape your physical body to reach enlightenment. Meditation is about connecting with your mind and body and noticing what you are experiencing. It can be as simple as focusing on your breath. Noticing the sounds, feelings, and movements of your breath can physically calm down your nervous system. It only takes a few moments.

Apps like Headspace, Calm, and Inscape guide you through different types of accessible exercises to help you increase productivity, reduce anxiety, improve sleep, and more. New York-based organizations like Omega and Kripalu offer mediation workshops and classes. An immersive workshop with a qualified instructor is a great way to get started or to energize your practice. If you practice even a few minutes of meditation each day for a week, you may start to experience its value.

Your Feet Deserve a Change of Pace

When you spend time walking on unfamiliar terrain or surfaces (pebbles, grass, sand), a couple of great things happen. Your foot has a chance to exercise its mobility by adapting to the uneven surface and the sensory input stimulates your nervous system in a new way.

Go for a hike. Nature is so healing, and what better place to explore than the beautiful state of New York (Here's a New York Makers Magazine article on hiking some of the regions of New York State)! There is also a great hiking app called All Trails that I highly recommend. All Trails makes it easy to find local hiking trails wherever you’re located. The app will tell you how easy or hard the trail is, and it provides a map to follow for trails that aren’t marked well. You can record your hikes and share them with your friends.

Cascade Mountain trail, Adirondacks.

Get Outside and See Art

Being outside is great for the body, so why not see some art while you’re at it? There are many beautiful outdoor sculpture parks in New York. Check out this article for more information about New York State’s 10 Best Sculpture Parks.

If sculptures aren’t your thing, you can go on a Mural Tour in Kingston or Brooklyn and more! Going on a tour is a great way to see new places you’ve never explored before and notice pieces you might have overlooked in the past.

"Pronkstilleven" mural by NYC-born artist Gaia from O+ Festival in Kingston.