It’s March 20th and spring is officially in the air. The snow has almost melted away, the flowers are eager to bloom, and the ground is teasing its green debut. For many people, the season represents growth, life, and all things new. And for some, that means cleaning, organizing, and reevaluating their mindsets. What better way to fuel that motivation than indulging in some good ol’ shows and documentaries? Maybe settle in after taking a look at your goals for this spring but before you take the plunge into those overflowing dresser drawers and cluttered cabinets. Here are four captivating TV shows and documentaries to spice up your spring.
1. Tidying Up with Marie Kondo
Best known for her best-selling book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, Marie Kondos’ new Netflix show follows one family per episode as she teaches them her Konmari method. She helps people appreciate their belongings and households while encouraging them to let go of the things that no longer “spark joy” in their lives.
From books to loose papers to old photographs, she covers how to deal with all of it. If you’re looking for inspiration to get rid of old, ratty concert t-shirts you can’t part with or can’t figure out the best places to store wooden spoons – this is the show for you. Watching other people’s environments dramatically change will have you wanting to do the same.
2. Queer Eye
If you’ve never seen Netflix’s Queer Eye, I envy you. I wish I could unwatch and then rewatch every episode over and over again because it’s that good. Antoni, Karamo, Tan, Bobby, and Johnathan are five, powerful, beautiful gay men that work their makeover magic on a different person(or people) in each episode. Friends and family members nominate people in their life who are more than just a little rough around the edges.
The “Fab Five” share their expert advice for cooking, culture, design, fashion, and grooming to help guide each individual towards their best life. The transformations are vulnerable, unique, and emotional. Watch one episode and you’ll be laughing, crying, and taking notes on how you can improve your happiness, confidence, and well-being this spring.
3. What the Health
Healthy diets are usually more of a New Year’s resolution kind of thing but with the change in seasons, a lot of people feel the pressure to look their best for summer. It’s important to be mindful of what we put into our bodies because food is fuel after all. In What the Health, Filmmaker Kip Anderson gives us an inside look into the relationship between the food industry and chronic diseases caused by the very foods we have been told are the healthiest for our bodies.
It’s an eye-opening journey that questions the intentions of health organizations in the U.S. and ultimately promotes the benefits of a plant-based diet. If being more mindful of your eating habits and your environmental impact are things you’re trying to improve this spring, put down the cheeseburger and put on Anderson’s documentary on Netflix.
4. Free Solo
Alex Honnold is a professional rock climber with little to no fear in his body. The Oscar-winning documentary, Free Solo, captures intimate details of his life and his experience training and preparing for his free solo (climbing without ropes) of El Capitan, a 3000-foot sheer granite rock wall in Yosemite National Park. Honnold lives in a van with his girlfriend, Sanni McCandless, whose teetering, caring relationship adds underlying emotion and suspense to the film.
The documentary is not for the faint of heart. One slip up for Honnold and his body’s plummeting to the ground in front of an entire camera crew. But spoiler alert, he makes it to the top unscathed and we almost see tears in his eyes. The film is about passion. About putting every bit of strength you have into what you love and never looking back. Streaming on Hulu and National Geographic, Free Solo is a film for everyone who believes in the power of human beings. To put a little “spring” in your step, put on Free Solo and keep something close to you to squeeze.
such sweet things 