This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links at no extra cost to you. Please read my full disclosure for more information.
Living in season with allergies is tough.
One key tenet of a lot of mindful practices, hygge living guides, and so on is living in season — that is, celebrating the now and the joyful parts of each season.
In the spring, this often looks like getting outside into nature, eating what’s growing locally, and throwing the windows open and getting fresh air now that the weather’s warming up.
All of this is great! …But slightly less doable when you’re allergic to the outdoors.
So how do those of us with allergies live in season when the season brings uncontrollable sneezing?
Check the Pollen Forecasts
This is a pretty simple one. A lot of weather apps include this information, and if not you can find it online with a quick search. If the pollen level is high, and/or if the major allergens of the day are things that you know you’re sensitive to, maybe reschedule your hike!
Keep the Outdoors Out
As tempting as it may be, opening your windows probably isn’t the best idea. If you choose to do so anyway, don’t do it in your bedroom — you won’t be able to sleep well if you’re sniffling all night due to the pollen that came in on the wind.
Keep long hair tied back or covered if you can when you go outside, since it’s a pollen magnet. When you come back in, change your clothing and take off your shoes to help limit your ability to track pollen everywhere. If it’s a particularly bad day, take a quick rinse-off shower when you get home.
Find Alternatives
Desperate to stop and smell the flowers? Try cut flowers or fake ones combined with a natural fragrance like diffused essential oils. You can replicate the experience without getting a noseful of pollen!
Want to go on a picnic? Move your furniture around, put a blanket down, play nature background noises on your phone, and have an indoor picnic. Do all the things you’d do for a picnic — pack a picnic basket, invite a friend along if you’d like, don’t wander into your kitchen for extra condiments. The more you embrace the experience the more fun it will be!
Indoor Celebration
There are plenty of ways to live in season that don’t involve the outdoors. Eating in season and locally, growing plants of some kind inside, and changing up your home decor to light, bright, springtime linens and knick-knacks are all ways to celebrate spring without triggering allergies. The traditional spring clean could even help you feel better if you have issues with dust!
You might also enjoy getting a bird feeder or birdbath to put near your window; I always like watching the birds in the spring because they’re so full of energy after the long winter. (And so does my cat.) Plus, nothing says spring quite like birdsong does.
Allergies can be a real pain, but they don’t mean you can’t celebrate springtime. If you have more ideas on living in season with allergies, let me know in the comments!
Pin for later:
