Winter is officially over in about an hour.

Not that you’d know it by looking outside.

Here in the Treasure Valley, winter doesn’t always end with sunshine and celebration. Sometimes it lingers — heavy, gray, unmoving. The inversion settles in, the air feels thick, and even when the calendar says spring, your body still feels stuck.

And yet… something shifts.

Even before the weather changes, I can feel it — that itch to get outside again. Not to do anything impressive. Not to check an activity off a list. Just to feel light on my face. To breathe deeper. To feel a little clearer in my own head.

After a long winter, that need feels almost urgent.

When Winter Is Technically Over, But You’re Still Under the Gray

If you live here, you know exactly what I mean.

The inversion can make winter feel endless. Days blur together under the same dull sky, and even the simplest things feel heavier than they should. By the time late winter rolls around, I’m not craving adventure — I’m craving relief.

Sometimes that means getting above it.

A short drive toward the foothills outside Boise.
Heading just high enough where the clouds thin and the sun breaks through.
Not to ski, not to hike miles — just to stand in the light and remember that it still exists.

That’s usually when the itch shows up the strongest. The reminder that winter is ending, even if it doesn’t feel like it yet.

The Itch Isn’t About Activities — It’s About Mental Clarity

This time of year, I don’t want plans. I want space.

Space in my body.
Space in my thoughts.
Space from the noise of being inside all the time.

Getting outside in early spring isn’t about entertainment for my kids or productivity for me. It’s about mental clarity. It’s about shaking off the fog — literal and emotional — and giving myself permission to feel human again.

And here’s the part I think a lot of moms need to hear:

It’s okay if winter is ending and you’re not ready.

It’s Okay If You’re Not Ready to Get Outside Again

You don’t need:

• New gear
• A reset routine
• A plan
• Anyone’s approval

You don’t need to “be an outdoor mom.”

You don’t need to justify why you’re stepping outside — even if it’s just for ten minutes.

Early spring outside time can be small. Imperfect. Unprepared. And it still counts.

Some days, getting outside looks like grabbing whatever layers are closest to the door and calling it good. For me, that’s often a lightweight, packable spring jacket that stuffs into its own little bag and lives in my backpack 👉 https://amzn.to/49Kv67K
It’s not fancy — it just removes one more reason to stay inside.

For my kids, it’s usually an everyday windbreaker — nothing technical, just something that cuts the chill 👉 https://amzn.to/49Kv67K

That’s it. No checklist required.

What “Getting Outside” Actually Looks Like Right Now

Early spring outside time doesn’t have to look like a big adventure.

Most days, it looks like:

• Standing in the sun while the kids play
• A short walk around the neighborhood
• Sitting on a park bench with coffee
• Driving just far enough to see blue sky

Sometimes I don’t even move much. I just exist outside.

And that’s enough.

I bring a water bottle — mostly out of habit 👉 https://amzn.to/49Kv67K
The kids grab their own small backpacks — not because we’re hiking, but because it gives them ownership and capability 👉 https://amzn.to/49Kv67K

We’re not training for anything. We’re transitioning.

Getting Out of the Inversion (Without Making It a Big Deal)

One of the biggest gifts of living here is that the sun is often closer than it feels.

Some simple ways we escape the gray:

• A short drive toward the foothills
• Pulling off at a scenic overlook just to sit
• Heading toward higher elevation for fresh air
• Timing park visits on clearer afternoons

Even just being near the edge of the valley can feel different. Lighter. Quieter. Like a reset.

You don’t need to make a day of it. You don’t need a destination that “counts.”

You just need light.

Simple Spring Activities That Scratch the Itch

If you want ideas — not obligations — here are a few that work especially well right now:

• Short nature walks where mud is not expected
• Sitting in the grass before it’s fully green
• First picnic of the year (even if it’s windy)
• Creek-side wandering
• Park hopping around the valley
• Evening walks as the days get longer
• A quick visit to the Boise Farmers Market when it opens, just to feel the energy

None of these require preparation. None of them need validation.

They’re just ways to answer that itch gently.

Why This Outside Time Matters So Much for Moms

This season isn’t about pushing harder.

It’s about remembering yourself.

Outside time in early spring feels like:

• Mental unclenching
• Breathing without effort
• Feeling present again
• Letting go of winter survival mode

And you deserve that — even if it’s brief, even if it’s messy, even if it doesn’t look impressive.

Let Spring Start Small

You don’t need to rush into bucket lists or big plans.

Let this be the doorway — not the whole season.

Step outside. Stand in the sun. Let winter end in your body, even if it hasn’t fully left the valley yet.

You can build later.

Today, it’s enough to answer the itch.