Winter Wrap-up, Time to Prepare for Spring
- Lay Jordan
- 3 days ago
- 9 min read
Spring is close enough to feel, even if the weather is still doing that late-winter thing where it cannot make up its mind.
Today is the last day of February (This was supposed to go on the second-to-last day, but due to technical difficulties, this was pushed to Saturday morning), which means we are officially in that sweet spot: close enough to a new season to get excited, and far enough away to prepare without panicking.
Spring arrives on March 20, so we have 21 days to get ourselves ready.
Sunday is March 1, which always feels like the real “new month, new energy” moment.
March 8 is when the time changes for daylight savings, which means adjusting to a new sleep schedule once again.
This episode is also inspired by Episode 67, my cozy reset for the colder months. In that one, I shared my personal ins and outs for avoiding the winter funk and the mindset shifts that help you move with the season instead of fighting it. We talked about how winter blues can show up at different times for different people, how to spot what fuels you versus what drains you, and how to build a simple winter “game plan” that supports your healing, your routines, and your goals. If any of that feels like something you need right now, I really recommend listening to the full episode for the deeper context and the gentle reset that goes with it via the links below.
Episode No. 67
Where to listen:
This one is the sister blog post: the winter wrap-up and the spring set-up.
Because if fall is about release, spring is about return.
Fall is me releasing what I need to, so I can have a winter full of aligned transformation.
I know people can find this season sad, but winter has always been my most creative and reflective time.
I love my winter self because she does the work that I get to receive in the summer months.
And spring is the return: what I have been building behind the scenes finally becomes visible.
Return to momentum.
Return to curiosity.
Return to the version of yourself that has been quietly growing under the surface.
The 3-Week Spring Prep List (Low, Medium, High Energy)
I wanted this to feel cute and doable, not overwhelming.
So I made a three-week listicle you can pick from depending on your energy levels.
Whether you want to get organized, emotionally reset, celebrate, prepare for an identity shift, or just feel refreshed, there is something here for you.
Note: You do not have to do everything. The goal is to do something that makes March 20 feel like a real arrival.
Week 1 (March 1–7): Reset + Clear Space
This is the “let’s soften the chaos” week.
Full Moon in Virgo: March 3
A good moment for cleaning, organizing, and getting honest about what needs to be simplified.
Low energy (10–20 minutes)
Open one window, even for a few minutes. Let the air change.
Do a quick “surface sweep” of one area: nightstand, bathroom counter, desk, or kitchen table.
Pick one tiny thing to toss or donate (a receipt pile, expired skincare sample, old lip balm).
Make a “Spring Notes” list in your phone or journal: ideas, cravings, goals, feelings.
Step outside for 5 minutes (even if it is cold) and notice one sign of seasonal change.
Medium energy (30–60 minutes)
Do a mini closet edit: choose one category.
Tops, jeans, loungewear, shoes, bags.
Reset your calendar for March.
Add any appointments, deadlines, content ideas, etc..
Start a “back to outdoor walks” plan.
Pick 2–3 days you want to walk outside again.
Clean out one “landing zone” (entry table, purse, car cup holder, or the chair that collects clothes).
Refresh one small area with a spring touch.
Swap a candle, wash one throw blanket, or change your pillowcases.
High energy (1–3 hours)
Do a true closet clean-out.
Focus on the pieces that keep you tied to an identity you are outgrowing.
Deep clean one “high impact” zone.
Bedroom, bathroom, or kitchen.
Create a donation bag and put it directly by the door.
Wash windows or mirrors in one main room so the light hits different.
Do a “Virgo full moon reset” list.
Pick 10 tiny tasks and knock them out in one playlist session.
Week 2 (March 8–14): Light + Movement + Mood
Daylight savings hits, and the energy shifts. This is the “romanticize your life” week.
Low energy (10–20 minutes)
Make a “Spring vibe” playlist.
Choose one tiny celebration ritual.
Fresh flowers, a fancy sparkling water, lighting a candle after work.
Write a short “What I want to feel this spring” paragraph.
Do a 10-minute stretch with the curtains open.
Make your next walk cuter.
Pick an outfit, a route, or a podcast for it.
Medium energy (30–60 minutes)
Add daily movement besides walking.
Stretching, Pilates, dance workout, yoga, a quick strength circuit.
Try one spring-inspired recipe.
Anything bright, fresh, or colorful.
If you make content, pick one spring content theme you can carry through March.
For me, my “What I eat in a day” series has been such a fun anchor.
Plan one “light + mood” outing.
Farmer’s market, bookstore, museum, botanical garden, or a long coffee shop sit.
Do a mood reset for your space.
Declutter your bedside, restock your water, and set up one cozy evening routine.
High energy (1–3 hours)
Meal prep a few “spring reset” options.
Proteins, chopped veggies, fruit, a sauce or dressing you love.
Do a full “re-entry” movement plan.
Choose a weekly schedule that feels realistic, not punishing.
Go through your space and reset the little things.
Sheets, towels, candles, skincare drawer, laundry.
Plan a “daylight savings glow-up day.”
Hair care, nails, outfit planning, and a long shower reset.
Do a full “digital spring clean.”
Clean up your camera roll, unfollow what drains you, and organize one folder.
Week 3 (March 15–20): Identity Shift + Gentle Expansion
This is the week where you step into the new season on purpose.
New Moon in Pisces: March 18
A perfect moment for dreaming, soft intention-setting, and spiritual reset. Keep it gentle.
Low energy (10–20 minutes)
Write down 3 things you are proud of from winter.
Create one small “future you” signal.
A new screensaver.
A quote taped to your mirror.
A new habit tracker.
Do a Pisces new moon “wish list” brain dump.
What do you want to invite in, without editing yourself?
Take a slow everything shower and treat it like a reset ritual.
Step outside at night and look at the moon (or the sky) for 2 minutes.
No productivity, just presence.
Medium energy (30–60 minutes)
Look up in-person events connected to your career.
Meetups, panels, conferences, workshops, networking mixers.
Make new jewelry or something with your hands.
Bracelets, anklets, anything that feels playful.
Build your March–May watchlist.
Movies, comfort shows, documentaries, seasonal rewatches.
Plan one “spring social moment.”
A walk date, a friend dinner, a solo brunch, or a museum day.
Refresh your spring vision.
Make a mini moodboard, or save 10 images that match the energy you want.
High energy (1–3 hours)
Plan a full “spring era” week.
What does a good week look like in spring?
What does your morning routine look like?
What does your work rhythm look like?
Do a “spring reading stack” reset.
I am thinking about reading the Bridgerton series throughout March and April. I started Book 1 in February, and I am hoping to finish it before King of Gluttony comes out.
After that, I want to dive into the Dark Olympus series. It may not scream spring, but mythology always feels like its own kind of season.
Do a “new moon clean” focused on energy.
Light a candle, open a window, and clear one drawer fully.
Do a spring wardrobe re-style session.
Try on outfits and pre-save 5 easy looks for busy days.
Create a simple “spring return” routine.
3 anchors you do most days: water, movement, and one tidy reset.
Spring Reflection Questions (Journal Prompts)
If you want to make this season more intentional, here are a few spring-inspired questions to sit with:
What part of me is ready to be seen again?
What am I no longer willing to carry into the new season?
Where have I been playing small out of habit, not truth?
What does “fresh” look like in my daily life?
What would it mean to celebrate myself before I feel finished?
What identity am I ready to grow out of, gently and without shame?
What kind of effort am I proud to keep making, even when it is slow?
What do I want my spring to be known for?
March as a Review Point
As I spoke about in a previous post, March is a perfect review point. If you want to know why, check out that post, because I go deeper into the seasonal timing and why March is such a powerful place to recalibrate.
Before we step into March, I want to name what February taught me.
I started the month feeling a little sluggish and foggy, so I stopped trying to muscle my way through it and paid attention instead. I took a recovery week, let myself sleep more when my body asked for it, and I stopped treating rest like something I had to earn. Because I did my winter ins and outs, I truly think I avoided the kind of winter blues and long-term burnout that can take weeks, or even a full month, to recover from.
Listening to those signals is why I am walking into this new month feeling positive, clear, and energized.
Now I feel motivated to keep making steady effort toward my career, my content creation, and becoming the woman I dream of. Spring is not asking me to be perfect. Spring is asking me to be present, to move with what is true, and to stop forcing what only looks good. I did something I am finally learning how to do without guilt: I listened. I let my body set the pace instead of my anxiety. Little by little, the signal came back. Not in a dramatic “new me” way, but in a quiet return to myself.
That is why March feels like a review point for me. Not because I need a new personality, but because March is where I get to look at what winter taught me and decide what I am carrying forward on purpose as spring gets closer.
Over these 21 days before spring officially arrives, I am treating my life like a gentle check-in. I am asking what actually worked for me this winter, what I outgrew while I wasn’t looking, and what I am ready to be consistent with next.
And yes, I am determining new ins and outs again, but not because the internet said so. Because my identity is still unfolding. Because the woman I am becoming has different standards, different needs, and different non-negotiables. Some things are “in” simply because they keep me well, and some things are “out” because they keep me stuck in a season I am already leaving behind.
If you are reading this at the end of February, just know you still have time. You do not have to overhaul your whole life. Pick one thing that makes you feel like you are returning to yourself, and let that be the beginning. Then let March meet you there and show you, in real time, what new ins and outs want to be born from who you are becoming.
Episode Description:
In this episode, we're wrapping up November with good vibes as we explore my personal "ins and outs" to avoid the winter funk. If you've been feeling the seasonal blues creeping in, this episode is packed with practical insights on how to shift your mindset, protect your energy, and set yourself up for a fulfilling winter season.
⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of weight and weight loss from 29:50 to 33:58, including mention of specific weights. Please note that this discussion reflects my personal experience as a short woman (under 5'1") at an age where I'm no longer growing, and comes from a place of addressing physical discomfort rather than aesthetic goals. Feel free to skip this section if this content may be triggering for you.
💫 Key Topics:
Understanding your personal winter blues patterns and triggers
Energy drainers vs. growth challenges: knowing the difference
Stop rushing what doesn't matter (false urgency exposed)
Quality over quantity: the goal-setting trap nobody talks about
Protecting your energy through strategic boundaries
Breaking free from perfectionism and "waiting for ready"
The seasonal goal framework that actually works
Powerful insights from double moonology card pull
🎯 Perfect for anyone looking to end the year on a positive note, create sustainable goals, and navigate the winter months with intention and energy. Whether you're prone to seasonal blues or just want to make the most of the cooler months, this episode offers a fresh perspective on winter wellness.
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Music by Remil - Evening Tea - https://thmatc.co/?l=DFECB5D4
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About the It Girl with an IQ
I'm Lay, a writer, podcast host, YouTuber, and lifestyle content creator exploring the intersection of beauty, wellness, and personal development with intellectual depth. Through A Little Atypical, I create content for deep feelers and unconventional thinkers who want substance beyond surface-level advice. I believe you don't have to choose between being glamorous and being thoughtful. Yo
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