Spring and Your Nervous System: How Seasonal Shifts Affect Stress, Mood, and Energy

Spring in Bend feels like a breath of fresh air — longer days, returning light, and the early bloom of life reawakening around us. But alongside this beauty, many of us are feeling… off. One day it's warm and energizing, the next it's cold and raw. You might notice changes in your sleep, your mood, or even how easily you're startled.

These sensations aren’t random. Your nervous system is responding — constantly adapting to the season’s shifts in light, temperature, and energy. When we understand what’s happening beneath the surface, we can meet these changes with more compassion and care.

Here are five ways spring affects your nervous system — and gentle practices you can try to stay grounded through the transition.

1. Temperature Swings Can Disrupt Your Inner Balance

When the weather changes quickly — from sun to snow in a matter of days — your body has to work harder to find its rhythm. Sudden cold can activate your stress response, while rapid warming can leave you feeling drained or foggy.
👉 Source: Atlantic Health System

Try this:

• Layer with intention. Choose natural, breathable fabrics you can add or remove easily, so your body doesn't have to do the work of readjusting all day.

• Start your morning with slow, conscious breath. Inhale for four counts, hold for seven, exhale for eight — a simple rhythm to anchor your energy.

2. Sunlight Restores Mood and Sleep Cycles

As daylight stretches longer, your nervous system begins to recalibrate. Natural light tells your body it’s time to awaken, enhancing serotonin (the feel-good hormone) and regulating your sleep-wake cycle.
👉 Source: NIH

Try this:

• Begin your day outside, even briefly. Let the light hit your eyes (without sunglasses) for 15–30 minutes — it’s one of the most powerful resets you can give your system.

• Wind down with intention. After sunset, dim the lights, light a candle, or step away from screens to support your body’s natural rhythm.

3. Shifting Weather Can Stir Up Emotional Sensitivity

For many people, sudden barometric or temperature changes heighten emotional sensitivity — feelings of anxiety, irritability, or disconnection can surface unexpectedly.
👉 Source: Frontiers in Psychology

Try this:

• Ground yourself daily. Whether it's standing barefoot in the grass, holding a warm cup of tea mindfully, or placing your hand over your heart — give your body a sensory anchor.

• Create calming space. Keep your environment gentle when weather feels chaotic — soft lighting, peaceful sounds, and comforting textures can all help regulate your senses.

4. Movement Supports Emotional Flow and Nervous System Calm

Physical movement helps your body complete stress cycles and return to a place of balance. It doesn't have to be intense — in fact, slow and mindful movement is often more regulating than vigorous workouts.
👉 Source: APA

Try this:

• Take a walk and notice what's blooming. Let your pace be natural and your awareness open — the rhythm of walking soothes the nervous system.

• Stretch slowly at night. Especially through the hips, neck, and shoulders — areas where we tend to store stress and energy buildup.

5. Hydration Nourishes Your Whole System

Even gentle dehydration can make your nervous system feel frayed. In spring, we may forget to drink water consistently — but as your body adjusts to longer days and rising temps, it’s more important than ever.
👉 Source: NLM

Try this:

• Sip herbal tea or infused water throughout the day. Think lemon balm, mint, cucumber — herbs and fruits that hydrate and calm.

• Eat the rainbow. Spring produce like leafy greens, berries, and citrus are full of water, minerals, and life force — your nervous system loves this.

Here For You
Spring asks a lot of our bodies and our hearts. The beauty, the light, the movement — it’s invigorating, but also demanding. Honoring the way your nervous system responds to change isn’t weakness. It’s wisdom.

And if you're ready to be supported more deeply, Blissful Heart in Bend is here for you. Our practitioners offer massage therapy, energy healing, counseling, and holistic beauty treatments — all designed to help your body regulate, release, and remember how to rest.

🌿 Meet our team here and let your nervous system exhale into this new season.