How To Stay Healthy During Summer
The sun is shining, birds are chirping, water sprinklers are being turned on, swimming pools are being filled with fresh, cool water, and the children are getting ready to finish up their school year and jump into summer break!
Summer breaks can be busy with the scheduling and planning of activities and vacations, so it is easy to get caught up in the midst of things and forget to remember to stay on top of our health while having so much fun. We’ve all been there!
So here are some ways that you can ensure that you are remembering your health during the summer months so that you can continue on your summer adventures.
- Rest
Make sure that you are getting plenty of rest in between your activities so that you do not get burned out from all of the fun. Make time for some low-key activities where you can rest your feet and give your mind a break from the rushing around. It is also important to make sure that you are getting enough sleep at night. Aim to get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night. - Use Sunscreen
Make sure that you are using your sunscreen according to the product’s directions. Set a timer on your phone or watch to ensure that you are reapplying when needed. Wearing light-colored clothing and a hat can also help to protect your skin from becoming sunburned. - Stay Hydrated
Drink plenty of water for your stature. It is recommended to drink eight 8 oz glasses of water per day. During hot temperatures and physical activity, it is encouraged to drink more to replace the fluids lost from sweating. Chilled herbal infusions, such as a spearmint infusion, is another beverage option where you also benefit from the health properties of the herbs used. - Use Insect Repellent
Mosquitos can carry harmful diseases and other individuals can be allergic to mosquito bites so it is important that you use an insect repellent to keep the biting bugs away from you. - Physical Exercise
The high heat temperatures of the summer (depending on where you live) can make getting in some physical activity, how we normally would, quite uncomfortable when it gets too hot. Opt for exercises that you can do indoors such as yoga, pilates, or dance videos. YouTube is a great source for hundreds of free workout videos. Another option is to check out the local gyms such as Planet Fitness or the YMCA. Some gyms offer special discounts or incentives during the summer to encourage people to not give up on their fitness goals. - Eat Fruits & Vegetables
Make sure you are eating plenty of fruits and vegetables during the summer months. Local organic and in-season produce is the best choice, but I understand it is not an option for some communities. Fruits and vegetables contain many beneficial phytonutrients which help to boost our health. Some of these phytonutrients have beneficial properties such as being antioxidants, antivirals, anti-inflammatories, and immune boosting. Aim to eat the colors of the rainbow so that your plate has a variety of beneficial nutrients. - Check Local News Daily
The weather can change at any time and it is important to keep up with your local news to check on the weather conditions and any weather warnings such as high heat-index or pollution levels. - Check Medication Warnings
Some medications have warnings when it comes to sunlight exposure. Make sure that you check your medication packaging or speak with your pharmacist about any concerns you may have. - Stay Connected
During the summer months, some people are off from work so they do not see their fellow colleagues every day as they usually would. Making sure that you stay connected with friends, family, church groups, or any other social settings, is important for our mental health. Feeling that we are part of a community helps to avoid isolation and depression. - Address The Stress
The summer can be such a stressful time, especially for parents. There’s activities to plan, places to be, the demands of bored children… it can become rather stressful quite quickly. Remember to take full, deep breaths throughout the day. Schedule some time for yourself to enjoy some quiet, read a book, take a nap, go get a massage…. whatever it is that you do for yourself that you enjoy. One of my favorite products to address the occasional stress is Bach Rescue Remedy.
Now go out and conquer the summer and enjoy all of your activities and adventures! Share with us in the comments what your summer plans are, or what your own favorite ways to stay healthy during the summer are. I would love to hear about it!
Sources
[1] https://communityimpact.spectrum.com/resources/top-10-safe-healthy-home-tips-summer/
[2] https://www.jcmh.org/5-tips-to-stay-healthy-this-summer/
[3] https://www.myelomacrowd.org/15-tips-for-staying-healthy-during-summer-months/
[4] https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/how-to-have-a-happy-healthy-summer.html
