Slow Living in April: A Gentle To-Do List for Embracing Spring

Hello, April! First full Spring month, beginning of British Summer Time, when we’re ditching heavy coats and digging dresses out of the depths of our wardrobes! April invites us to ease into warmer days, appreciating the glory of life in the sunshine after a long and gloomy Winter. By the end of this month, the sun won’t set until 8:30 p.m., and the world will be buzzing with new life.

In Somerset, April brings huge transformation. Although signs of Spring and colourful flowers began appearing a couple of months ago, trees and hedges are still bare... but not for long. The first green buds and leaves are already appearing and by the end of April, the forest will be green again, covered in young, vibrant foliage and I can't wait for it!

Explore my slow living to-do lists for each month of the year here

Let’s make this month about lighthearted joy - observing the arrival of Spring and focusing on the simple pleasures of coming out of Winter: sunshine on our faces, gardens waking up, decorating our homes for Spring and Easter... In this month’s list, I share my simple yet heartwarming and fulfilling to-do list for a cosy, calm, and happy April

Watch My Most recent Vlog - Seasonal slow living, cosy homemaking & baking from the English countryside

1. Set Simple Intentions for Spring

Begin April by deciding how you want this month to feel. The first quarter of the year is gone and we’re coming out of the depths of Winter - it's the perfect time to reflect on the year so far and think about how you’d like things to be moving forward.

Think about realistic, small steps that can help you move towards your goals without feeling stressed or pressured. We change with the seasons and Spring - with its freshness and renewed energy is a wonderful time to set intentions and start working on your goals and dreams.

2. Shedding Winter Layers

As the days get warmer, it's time to slowly shed Winter's heavy layers - both metaphorically and physically.

Begin changing your wardrobe to lighter pieces. Bring back your favourite dresses and shoes for the warmer weather and enjoy wearing them again! It feels so liberating to leave the house in just a jumper instead of layers upon layers of thick clothes, scarves and coats.

Metaphorically shedding layers means letting go of the things that might not serve you anymore. Winter habits, just like coats, should be put to rest for the next three-quarters of the year. Spring means a fresh start - building new habits and trying new things.

3. Spring Cleaning and Decluttering

With the new season comes time for Spring cleaning. It’s not about having a perfect, dust-free house (mine certainly isn’t!), but about refreshing your home for the new season and preparing for the lighter, warmer part of the year.

Clutter in our homes greatly adds to mental clutter and by removing it, we give ourselves more physical and emotional space.

There are many old-fashioned traditions around Spring cleaning that were passed down by our grandmothers and great-grandmothers - I’ve gathered them in a fun (and hopefully inspiring) blog post. Read it here.

4. Decluttering Digital Life

Decluttering also extends to digital clutter - unfollow anyone who makes you feel uneasy, less-than, or whose content you simply don’t engage with. There’s no point in them taking up your online space. In fact, you’re doing them a favour - having inactive followers is worse than not having them at all. Trust me, I know a thing or two about that, lol!

5. Walk the English Countryside

One thing I believe we absolutely should do this month (and every other month of the year, to be precise) is walk the English countryside. Nature heals everything - from high blood pressure to a broken heart. Spending time in the forest or walking your local fields or beach, helps regulate your mood, connect with the seasons and is a wonderful way to practice mindfulness by observing the changes all around us.

In April, there’s so much to see - flower buds are opening and new leaves are emerging daily! With the warmer weather, there’s really no excuse to skip this simple pleasure.

P.S. Did you know we hand-pour candles inspired by the scents of the English countryside? Find them here.

6. Gardening (Pumpkins!!)

April is the time to start tending to our gardens. For me, it means watering my roses, weeding and planting my first hydrangea I received for Mother’s Day from my children! 

For my Autumn girls - April in the UK is the time to plant our beloved pumpkin seeds! You don't need a large garden for this; you can plant pumpkins in containers (I've had success in the past years with the Baby Boo variety). Gardening is a slow, rewarding activity that connects you with nature.

Excuse me for this diversion, but since we're on the topic of pumpkins (I know a few of you felt your heart skip a beat when reading this word:D), just a reminder that we stock Autumn and pumpkin candles all year round. Trust me - you're not going to be the only one burning Pumpkin Spice candles in April; we ship Autumn candles daily... all year round.

7. Decorating home for Spring & Easter

If you haven’t already, it’s time to start bringing Spring decor into your home to welcome the new season - an easy way to practice seasonal living. I already did it in March - now in April, I’m moving on to Easter decor.

Fresh tulips, branches of blossom (I got mine from eBay), Easter bunnies, eggs and baskets will be decorating my home this year, alongside our rustic candles.

Our Spring and Summer candle collection is perfect for bringing those happy, Spring vibes into your home. And don’t forget to check out our curated home decor collection, designed to instantly add the cosiness of a country cottage to your space.

9. Easter treats

Easter = chocolate, but not only that! Indulge in traditional Easter food and treats like hot cross buns, biscuits, eggs and so much more.

Eating is only part of the fun - I actually loved learning the history of hot cross buns and now seeing them in the supermarket aisle never feels the same! Hot cross buns have been around since medieval times. They were traditionally baked to celebrate the arrival of Spring and mark the end of Lent, and over the centuries became one of the little joys we look forward to every Easter.

10. Seasonal Cooking

In April, wild garlic can be found across the UK. If you're into foraging, it's the perfect time to gather the young leaves for soups, pestos, and freezing. Young nettles are appearing as well - perfect for teas, hair rinses, nettle butter and so much more.

The British asparagus season starts at the end of April - great news for enthusiasts of this vegetable and for those wanting to support local farms and businesses.

11. Be a Little Romantic

This time of the year, with the opening flowers and blue skies, is unquestionably the most romantic time of the year! I always feel inspired to wear floral dresses, drink rose tea from pretty china and of course, re-read and re-watch Pride & Prejudice, diving into the timeless love of Mr. Darcy and Lizzie. Love and romance should flourish in our real-life relationships all year round and Spring is such a lovely time to cuddle our loved ones a little bit tighter and hold their hand a little bit longer.

That said, you’ll be perfectly fine to romanticise your life as a single lady too - wear a pretty dress, take yourself out to a cosy coffee shop, enjoy the sunshine and smile at people walking by. 

A few closing words

In April, the English countryside warms and opens up - and I think that’s something we should feel inspired to do as well. Let’s find extra pockets of kindness and openness - towards others, and very importantly, towards ourselves this month.

Enjoy the process of transitioning into a new season, and find joy in the small, everyday moments and changes that Spring brings.

Thank you for reading
Adriana x

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