Spring Ahead: Strategic Moves to Help you Bloom in the Toughest Season of the Year
It’s time to spring ahead, my friend!
What’s that? You’re feeling a little off? Yeah, you’re not alone.
55% of U.S. adults report feeling tired after the spring daylight saving time transition.
Spring has arrived with her usual fanfare - longer days, chirpier birds, and the sudden, irrational urge to alphabetize your spice rack or overhaul your entire business strategy. (Just me?)
If you’re also feeling off: restless, tired and maybe a little emotionally ping-pongy, there’s a reason for that. It’s called Reverse Seasonal Affective Disorder (RSAD). Mmm, sounds fun. Is there a doctor in the house?!
NATURE’S NOT-SO-GENTLE-NUDGE
Tulips don’t ask for ideal conditions - they burst through any way they can. Forsythia and magnolia bloom while snow still lingers on the ground. We - like them - must emerge in this season!
Here’s the truth: spring is one of the hardest seasons to emerge from. After months of winter dormancy, nature doesn’t politely stretch and yawn.
It pushes.
Hard.
Flowers, trees and more bloom through frost, frozen ground and all manners of resistance. We’re not so different from those blooms. We have to work hard to spring ahead.
Still, we like to pretend we’re separate from all that nature stuff…with our lattes and digital calendars. But our bodies, brains, and leadership behaviors are still deeply tied to the seasons. So if your team is dragging - if your creativity is spiking in erratic bursts, or you can’t seem to get that “next big thing” off the ground, it’s not you. It’s spring.
Let’s break it down.
WHY SPRINGING AHEAD FEELS LIKE A STRUGGLE
Seasonal shifts mess with the whole human operating system. You may notice RESTLESSNESS OR FATIGUE.
When the days become longer in springtime, the body readjusts its hormone levels, releasing more endorphin, testosterone, and estrogen. This changeover puts a heavy strain on the body, which can respond with a feeling of tiredness.
Winter can really exhaust our body’s reserves of serotonin - aka, “the happiness hormone”, whose production depends heavily on daylight. As our bodies adjust to more daylight and shifting circadian rhythms when spring emerges, we can get emotional whiplash.
One day we’re exhausted, and the next we may feel a sense of urgency to move or change. And that comes with all kinds of excitement, anxiety and “DO ALL THE THINGS” energy.
Like nature, we feel the pressure to grow, bloom or pivot - sometimes all at once.
And if you're leading a team? These changes often show up as:
Don’t shy away from having all the feels. Leaders who have heightened levels of emotional agility - the ability to FEEL and work through it well - are, on average, 22 times more likely to succeed than others.
DIPS IN MOTIVATION and higher levels of resistance like procrastination and getting caught up in the minutiae of things.
“BRIGHT SHINY” IDEA SYNDROME - (all ideas, no follow-through)
INCREASED EMOTIONAL SENSITIVITY (cue unexpected hallway rants or suspiciously watery eyes in Zoom calls)
FOUR STRATEGIES: HOW TO SPRING AHEAD BY WORKING WITH THE SEASON
Instead of muscling through or pretending everything’s business as usual, here’s how to actually lead through spring without losing your mind or your momentum.
1. NAME WHAT’S HAPPENING
Call it out. “Hey team, we’re in a seasonal shift. If things feel off, that’s normal.”
It’s amazing what a little acknowledgment can do to neutralize resistance and build trust. Nobody wants to be the only tulip struggling to bloom.
2. RECALIBRATE YOUR ENERGY
This isn’t just “self-care,” it’s strategic maintenance. Encourage:
Adjusted sleep schedules (more light = earlier mornings)
Movement breaks and fresh air (stretch + sunshine = gold)
Lighter, seasonal foods to match your body’s changing needs. Don’t offer donuts at the team meeting - try fruit and sparkling water.
PRO TIP:
If your team is ready for a spring refresh on this very topic, ask us about our Rising with Resilience workshop.
We’ll get your team focused, ready, and energized to take on the season with joy.
Schedule your call with us here.
3. ALIGN YOUR WORKFLOWS WITH THE SEASON
Spring is great for fresh starts, so let that energy work for you.
Brainstorm freely – Creativity is high right now, even if execution is… wobbly. Capture ideas now, refine them later.
Start scrappy – Remind your team that it’s okay to launch before feeling 100% ready.
Declutter strategically – Clean up workflows, nix unnecessary meetings, and work on your calendar to increase your unscheduled time by 25% (to account for more creativity and changing personal schedules.) Spring cleaning isn’t just for closets.
4. EMBRACE THE PUSH
Spring doesn’t ask you to be comfortable. It asks you to grow.
Yes, it’s hard. It’s supposed to be.
But discomfort is not a sign you’re doing it wrong, it’s proof you’re moving forward. Think of it like this: If it snows again next week (because spring), you’ll still bloom. Maybe soggy and a little confused, but blooming nonetheless.
FINAL THOUGHT: TRUST THE SEASON, TRUST YOURSELF
If you’re feeling unsettled, edgy, or like you’re about to make a dramatic life change for no apparent reason, take a breath. You’re not alone, and you’re definitely not off-track.
You’re just in a seasonal shift.
Trust the timing.
Lean into the discomfort.
And remember: growth isn’t always graceful, but it’s always worth it.
