With milder temperatures, more sun, and wildlife sprouting everywhere, the arrival of spring in and of itself can put an extra kick in your step. It’s a time of possibility, a time to take stock of the habits that might be holding you back from being who you want to be — and to form new habits that help you become a better version of yourself.

“Spring can a really good time to reevaluate,” says Katerina Nicole Christiansen, MD, an associate physician and health science clinical professor at University of California Davis Health. And that includes giving your health and wellness routines a once over, she says. You may even find that resolutions made in springtime are easier to follow than the ones you try to implement in the cold, bitter winter months.

If you want to pay your health and well-being a little extra attention this spring, but don’t know where to start, here are  tips to get you started.

1. Fill Your Plate With Fresh, In-Season Fruits and Vegetables
Spring and summer are a great time to incorporate more fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables into the diet, says Misbah K. Keen, MD, a professor of family medicine at University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. Warmer weather produce, like mushrooms, bell peppers, zucchini, and berries, are all packed with micronutrients the body needs and thrives on.

Dr. Keen recommends visiting farmer’s markets and shopping for organic produce when possible, especially for fruits and vegetables that you eat whole from the outside, like apples or cherries. He also urges people to focus on getting healthy fats from produce and whole foods — like avocados, nuts, and seeds — rather than from refined oils and fried foods.

2. Be Mindful of Opportunities to Overindulge
Warmer weather often brings outdoor gathering like picnics and barbeques, which can come with unhealthy foods like grilled and processed meats and fatty snacks.

“A lot of foods that we barbecue are very fatty,” notes Anjali Mahoney, MD, a family medicine specialist with Keck Medicine of University of Southern California in Los Angeles. You don’t have to forgo these foods all together, but Dr. Mahoney recommends looking for leaner meat and poultry options and avoiding fried snacks and fatty dips when you can to help reduce your intake of artery-clogging unhealthy fats.

Another important precaution is to watch your alcohol intake at outdoor gatherings. Again, you don’t have to avoid it completely; moderation is important though, Mahoney advises. Stick to the recommendations from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which means limit to one drink a day if you’re a woman and two drinks if you’re a man (with fewer being a healthier choice).

3. Stay Hydrated
When it’s warmer outside, your body can lose more moisture through sweating, even if you don’t feel yourself getting sweaty. Dehydration can pose serious health risks if severe — and even if you’re just mildly dehydrated, it can cause fatigue, low energy, and headaches. To help prevent dehydration, it’s important to take proactive steps to drink enough water throughout the day, such as by keeping a water bottle handy at all times.

Another potential benefit of drinking enough water is that it may help you avoid overeating. “Drinking a glass of water prior to eating sometimes helps quell some of those hunger cues,” Dr. Christiansen explains.

4. Get Outside and Get Moving
Getting enough physical activity every day is really important, Mahoney says. It can be as simple as taking a walk down the block or spending some time gardening. Any activity that gets your bones and muscles moving can help.

Do we reap extra benefits though from activity done outside?

“We’re genetically programmed to enjoy the outdoors,” Keen notes. “It engages all of your senses, and it has a big effect on your mood and self-esteem.” Getting outside can boost vitamin D levels, thanks to the sun (just be sure to keep reading until the tip on wearing sunscreen below). And if you’re walking or running on uneven terrain, it can engage more muscles and improve your balance compared with moving on a flat surface.

5. Soak Up the Sun
There are many benefits to getting some sunlight (provided you’re being diligent about using sunscreen), Christiansen notes. “Bright light exposure helps release serotonin in the body, which can boost your mood,” she explains.

Exposure to sunlight also helps the skin produce vitamin D, which is good for bone health and other functions in the body, she adds.

And remember, even if you’re walking or hiking in the shade or on a cloudy day, there’s still going to be plenty of light to stimulate your mood, Keen says.