I hope everyone enjoyed their long weekend. Personally I could not have asked for a nicer time. Making memories with family, hanging out with friends, kite up on the first pitch … chocolate — all made for a very happy bunny.

And the weather was gorgeous. That late March cold snap quickly receded into forgotten history … spring is definitely here.

Springtime: leaves budding, flowers bursting into bloom, little lambs frolicking (somewhere in the world) … baby-everything appearing, hibernating creatures throwing off their winter slumber. It is a time of renewal, new life, quickening — like the world is catching up to speed again. Religious and cultural festivals and ceremonies abound at this time of year, marking, reflecting and celebrating these themes.

And why not incorporate spring’s metaphors and this resurge of momentum to positively affect our own lives, both personally and professionally?

Spring is a wake-up call. Not just if you’re a bear. We are over a quarter of the way through the year already — not to panic anyone. It feels like just yesterday I was drafting my intentions for 2014. How am I doing against my projections of where I thought I’d be by April? Have I even taken a second look at my ‘new year’s resolutions’? Back in January it seemed like eons before they were due.

Now is a great time to revisit plans and goals set for this year if they have happened to fall off the radar. And to make new ones if you didn’t get the chance or were otherwise uninspired in January. (Theravadin Buddhists celebrate their New Year in April)! Some helpful questions to ask might be: what do I desire to make happen over the coming eight months? What are priorities I need accomplished by 2015? How would I like to look by on the year 2014 and what do I need to do to create those memories?

Longer daylight hours and the warming weather tend to naturally create more buzz in the air, perking up our mood, energy and motivation. I, for one, want to capitalise on this before the heat really sets in and all I yearn to do is hide away in air-conditioning. I’m dusting off old projects that have got sidelined or needed some resting space.

Spring is also a great opportunity to:

Spring Clean.

In the workplace, at home, in the yard … In what ways can we create space for new growth and fresh opportunities (be they new projects, new ideas, new relationships, new plants)?

De-cluttering

Reviewing systems to ensure they are efficient and serving our needs

Taking the time to weed out those things (the material and intangible) that are not enhancing our life and work — all set us up for making the most of our energy and efforts.

We can also benefit from a spring clean of the mind.

What old habits, negative thoughts, unhappy feelings are we holding on to that are not serving us? Can we let them go now? Will we let them go?

Shedding burdens from our physical and psychological worlds creates a sense of freedom and unblocks potential by enabling new ways of ‘doing’ and ‘being’ which support us.

Get Moving.

Not unlike that grumpy old bear, I feel my body physically waking up with the spring. The duvet doesn’t call quite so relentlessly in the mornings and excuses dwindle as it is possible to get out exercising early or even after work. Now is a great time to get ourselves in shape if we’ve let ourselves get a little sluggish and homebound the past few months. Getting moving also helps blow away any remaining winter doldrums.

I also find I’m naturally more inclined toward lighter meals in the warmer weather. We can utilise these kinds of shifts to make positive lifestyle choices. I’m currently scouring Catherine Burn’s Facebook page for brilliant, healthy eating options, to take advantage of it — and hopefully do some shifting of my own. Summer is coming fast. Trying on bathing-suits the other day certainly highlighted to me some home truths. It’s time to spring into action.

Get it On.

(How else did the frolicking lambs get here?) Spring is m/dating season. For those in a relationship, this is a great time to bring on the romance. We can really benefit from shaking off any stagnation and ruts we may have slipped into over the winter (like just sticking ourselves in front of the TV for example). We tend to be happier to get out of the house more so there’s opportunity to make dates, plan special occasions and time spent together out and about. Warmer weather allows us to get dressed up without hiding under winter layers. And for those seeking a relationship, the potential improves as Spring encourages more events and opportunities to get out and socialise, to meet new people and make connections. We just have to make the effort to take them.

April Showers bring May flowers. Even the spring rain can be inspiring, seen as a powerful symbol of rebirth, new life and cleansing. It’s a common visual in cinema, usually toward the end of the movie. Our hero struggles through some ordeal and then along comes the rain to wash clean their hardship, redeem them and to mark the cusp of their new life. It’s a wiping of the slate. They emerge (slightly damp) but with greater resolve and more fire in their belly to go forward. Are there areas of our own lives which could use a little of this treatment and our permission to move on from? Can we find places to forgive and are there second chances we need to offer or pursue? Are we ready for a next phase for ourselves?

Let’s take advantage of the season to switch up a gear and take on life anew. Harnessing the abundant natural energy at is this time of year can fuel positive steps and lay the groundwork to be even happier, healthier and more productive — full of the joys of Spring.

Julia Pitt is a trained Success Coach and certified NLP practitioner on the team at Benedict Associates. For further information contact Julia on (441) 705-7488, www.juliapittcoaching.com.