By Breelyn Vanleeuwen, PA-C | Founder & CEO, Daily Shade
March is strange. It’s not fully winter. It’s not fully spring. It’s the in-between.
Schedules are shifting. Spring sports are starting. The sun is staying out longer. Kids are restless. And somehow 4 PM still feels chaotic.
Instead of waiting until summer to “get it together,” March is the perfect time for a gentle reset. Not a full overhaul. Not a new personality. Just five small habits that make a real difference.
As a Physician Assistant and mom of four, these are the things I focus on every March.
1. Make Sunscreen a Daily Habit, 
Not a Summer One
The sun gets stronger long before it feels warm. In many states especially high-altitude places like Utah, UV exposure increases significantly in early spring. Kids are outside for recess, sports, and after-school play long before we mentally switch into “sunscreen season.”
Up to 80 percent of lifetime sun damage occurs before age 18. That damage is cumulative. And it starts now. In our house the two morning questions are:
"Did you brush your teeth?
Did you put on sunscreen?"
Not just for pool days. Every day. March is the perfect time to normalize that habit before summer hits.
2. Upgrade the After-School Snack
March is when sports start ramping up. That 4 PM window matters. Instead of carb-only snacks that spike blood sugar and crash before dinner, aim for:
Protein
Fiber
Healthy fats
Think:
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Greek yogurt with berries
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Apple slices with almond butter
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Hard boiled eggs and fruit
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Low-sugar protein bites (our favorite recipe coming next month)
- Veggies cutup and ready to eat (if they're out its amazing how the kids eat them)
Balanced snacks stabilize mood, improve homework focus, and prevent meltdowns before dinner. Preparation prevents panic.
3. Add 20 Minutes of Outdoor Light
Spring light resets everyone’s nervous system.
After school, before homework, try 20 minutes outside.
Walk the dog.
Ride bikes.
Shoot hoops.
Sit on the porch.
Sunlight exposure earlier in the day improves sleep cycles, mood, and overall regulation. Just remember, sun exposure and sun damage are not the same thing. Enjoy the sun. Protect the skin. Both can exist at the same time.
4. Hydration Reset
Winter dehydration is real. Cold weather suppresses thirst cues, and kids often carry those habits into spring. March is a great time to:
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Send water bottles to school again
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Add electrolytes after sports
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Make hydration part of the routine
Proper hydration improves skin health, energy, and immune resilience all things we want heading into busy spring schedules.
5. Do a Quick Ingredient Audit
Spring cleaning isn’t just for closets. Take 10 minutes this month to look at:
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Sunscreen labels
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Skincare
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Lunchbox staples
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Packaged snacks
As parents, we assume products labeled “safe” or “baby” are automatically better. Sometimes they are. Sometimes they’re not. Awareness is powerful. You don’t have to change everything overnight. But March is a beautiful time to become more intentional.
Why March Matters
Healthy habits don’t start in June. They start in the quiet, ordinary weeks when no one else is paying attention. March is where prevention lives.
Not dramatic.
Not loud.
Just consistent.
And consistency in sunscreen, in snacks, in outdoor time is what changes long-term outcomes.
For our kids.
For their skin.
For their health.
Small habits. Big impact.
That’s the March reset.
