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What Do You Need This

Spring?

by Maria Gracia Published on April 1, 2026 Discover what GON readers say they need most this spring, from sunshine and fresh air to better health, hobbies, and peaceful moments, plus thoughtful reader insights and observations. Join our newsletter to be notified when new content is added to our website. How Readers Hope to Refresh and Recharge This Spring Last month, I asked GON readers, “What do you need this spring?” Here are the results of that poll, along with reader comments and a few of my own observations. Poll Results 35% Sunshine and fresh air 14% Focusing on my health 11% Time for hobbies and creativity 10% Mini-vacations or day trips 9% Other 9% Quiet time to recharge 8% Personal goals and growth 4% Meaningful conversations Personal GON Reader Comments • We had a spring tease...now it’s back to winter with snow and cold temperatures. I need sunshine! • All would be great, but after this long cold winter I’m looking forward to warm sunny days! • All of the above! Most of them overlap anyway! • Motivation to get ready to move. Downsizing and trading homes with our son and his family • Fewer worries. More peace in my soul and happy news (personal, family and even world). Limiting negative content and people. Focusing on silver linings and keeping a blessing journal for a shift. Prayers. Nature moments. Comedy. • Energy, time, and desire to tackle a project at the same time! • I really need ALL of these things this spring to reawaken my full self • Self-discipline to get on with the things I know need doing! • More time with my musician friends • Outings with friends after the long, cold snowed- in winter in the Northeast • Help downsizing for a June move! • I need to realize I just turned 80 and accept what I can’t do anymore. And focus on what I can do • All of the above, plus completing a decluttering milestone My Observations If you live in a place like Wisconsin, as I do, you probably understand why sunshine and fresh air came in at the top of this month’s poll. After months of gray skies, snow boots, and bundling up just to walk to the mailbox, it’s hard not to crave a little warmth and light. Personally, I’m right there with you. The first truly warm day of spring feels like a celebration. Suddenly people are out walking their dogs again, windows start opening, and the whole world seems to wake up. Even something simple like sitting outside with a cup of tea for a few minutes can feel like a treat after a long winter. It was interesting to see focusing on health rank so high as well. Spring really is prime time to reset healthy habits. The weather invites us to move more, whether that’s walking, biking, gardening, or simply spending more time outdoors. Farmer’s markets begin popping up again, which makes it easier (and more fun) to add fresh fruit and vegetables to meals. Even small changes, like taking a walk after dinner or preparing lighter meals, can help us feel more energized. Another popular choice was time for hobbies and creativity, and spring is the perfect season to explore those. When the weather improves, new possibilities open up. You might try something you’ve never done before…birdwatching, nature photography, gardening, or sketching outdoors. Or perhaps it’s time to bring back a hobby you once enjoyed but haven’t made time for lately. Sometimes just dusting off the supplies for an old hobby can bring back that spark of creativity. Many readers also said they’re looking for mini- vacations or day trips. These don’t have to be elaborate or expensive. A drive through the countryside, a visit to a nearby park, or exploring a town you’ve never spent much time in can feel surprisingly refreshing. After months of routine, a simple change of scenery can do wonders. The responses about quiet time to recharge caught my attention too. Life gets busy, and it’s easy to move from one obligation to the next without giving ourselves a moment to pause. Quiet time doesn’t have to mean hours of solitude. It might simply be taking a walk alone, sitting outside and listening to the birds, journaling for a few minutes in the morning, or enjoying a cup of coffee without turning on the television or checking your phone. Some readers also mentioned personal goals, growth, and meaningful conversations. Spring can be a wonderful time to think about where you’d like to go next…personally, creatively, or even emotionally. It might be setting a small goal you’ve been putting off, reconnecting with friends, or simply making more time for the people who bring positive energy into your life. One thing I noticed in the reader comments is that many people feel like spring helps them reawaken after the long winter months. That makes perfect sense. The longer days and warmer temperatures naturally give us a boost. The good news is that welcoming more of what you need this spring doesn’t require a complete life overhaul. Sometimes it’s just a matter of making room for a few simple things: a little sunshine, a little movement, a little creativity, and a little quiet. And after a long winter, that can feel like exactly what we need. Back to Web Poll Results Index