Spring as a Seasonal Reset

Spring is especially meaningful for our family as we celebrate four birthdays in a joy-filled, two-week span. We usually mark the occasion with an outdoor activity: hiking, beach time, or exploring a local garden. We also visit our preferred locally owned restaurant for a special meal. Although our celebrations may vary as our duty stations change, our tradition remains the same.

Our new favorite spring event is the local Fairy Festival. Held in a beautiful garden, vendors and local artists create stunning backdrops for photo ops, adorable gnome homes decorate the landscape, and stunning exhibits capture the wonder of adults and children alike.

Gardening is also a favorite of ours, particularly the perennials. New blooms signify the end of winter, and warmer weather is well on its way. This spring reset in nature mirrors military resilience, reminding us that perseverance through even the harshest conditions can produce strength and beauty.

The emotional shift from winter to spring is much needed for many, particularly those who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

A spring reset brings warmth and hope after the dark, cold days of winter.

The Winter Weight We Carry

Winter can be physically and emotionally taxing. Often described as a season of rest, winter can sometimes feel anything but relaxing with the extra burdens of holiday planning, shopping, cooking, and entertaining. There is also more isolation, with fewer daylight hours and colder temperatures.

Wintering: A Military Spouse Perspective

Deployments and military separations can feel synonymous with winter for a military family. With our service members as our partners — our sunshine and warmth, our source of energy and life — their absence can make every season more challenging to a military spouse, especially winter. Solo parenting or a recent Permanent Change of Station (PCS) can also amplify holiday loneliness.

Although military families are adept at building resilience during times of uncertainty, the unforeseen challenges of the military lifestyle can be hard. But just as spring comes after the darkest months, there is hope.

Creating Wellness-Driven Spring Routines

Spring routines can improve spring wellness. Here are four simple ideas to consider:

1. Practice Gratitude: Journal, call a friend or loved one, or send a thank-you note to those who support you: teachers, delivery drivers, coaches, secretaries, trash collectors, etc.
2. Spring Cleaning: A good spring reset includes spring cleaning. Let the fresh air in — then remove the pollen that comes with it! A clean space brings peace of mind.
3. Seasonal Meal Planning: Meal planning is great for budgeting, and in-season produce is wallet-friendly.
4. Get Outdoors: Enjoy all that nature has to offer outside with a family hike or quick walk to a neighborhood park.

New rhythms can be eased into with simple tactics:

• Schedule downtime to connect as a couple and a family. It’s easy to fill up a calendar with sports, social gatherings, and religious events. Regularly scheduled family time can improve spring wellness and overall mental health.
• Spring routines are made easier with chore charts and calendars. The whole family can visualize upcoming responsibilities and events at a glance.
• Consider resilience training to improve mental health.

A spring reset is more than cleaning and routines — it’s about building resilience.

Reconnecting with Loved Ones & Ourselves

Rebuilding bonds after stressful seasons is essential to military resilience. Here’s how you can intentionally reconnect:

• Share the Load: From preparing a meal to covering a task your partner usually handles, you are a team. Build resilience and strengthen bonds together.
• Set Goals: Whether shared or individual goals, teamwork makes the dream work. Date nights and weekend getaways can improve connection, family meetings can help reach financial goals, and encouraging each other’s fitness goals can help you reach your next fitness milestone.
• Shared Journaling: Processing your experiences together can build trust. Consider a shared journal with your spouse or your children.

Most importantly, take time for yourself! Part of building resilience is normalizing the need for a reset after burnout or emotional fatigue. It’s okay to decline the invite, postpone chores, or cancel plans occasionally. Healthy relationships and friendships understand that overwhelming circumstances are just that, and sometimes grace and time are the only things that help.

The good news? You are never alone.

Community & Ongoing Support

A military support community can be built wherever you are. Every base has a chaplain and a Family Readiness hub for military families, but the support doesn’t stop there.

Building Resilience with ASYMCA

The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) empowers military families to grow through their challenges. ASYMCA provides the tools, community, and care that strengthen resilience across the journey of military life.

ASYMCA programs that uplift military families during seasonal transitions include:

• Operation Little Learners – Highly recommended from personal experience! This parent-child learning experience is a great way to introduce early learning and foster connections with other military families.
• Operation Hero – A unique afterschool program tailored to the challenges military children face. This program is particularly helpful after a PCS or during deployment.
• Operation Camp – A summer day camp for military children that builds meaningful connections in a fun environment.

Resilient Military Families Year-Round

From spring resets to year-round wellness, ASYMCA programs help military families thrive through every season of change. Find your local ASYMCA branch to explore all programs and services.

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