How to Take Care of Your Summer Health
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Keeping cool during the summer heat can be a struggle, especially when you’re not just battling high temperatures but also humid conditions. You will probably find yourself staying indoors or craving ice cream more than usual this season. But how can you stay healthy and happy while trying to escape the heat? With these tips, you can easily maintain your summer health instead of worrying about how hot it is outside. We all know that sunshine is good for our health – it helps us produce vitamin D, which is essential for great bones, teeth and general wellbeing. However, in the peak of summer we often find ourselves spending less time outside in that lovely sunshine and more time hiding from it! If you’re struggling to balance your outdoor/ indoor time and your ice-cream/ salad intake this summer, follow these simple tips to keep yourself cool and happy through the warmest months:
Travel light
We all love to pack our bags, but it’s important to remember that we shouldn’t be carrying around our winter wardrobe in the middle of summer! In hot weather, you have to be more mindful of what you’re wearing, how much of you is exposed and how sweaty you get. It’s best to wear light, loose-fitting fabrics that allow your skin to breathe. Your feet should be covered and your head should be protected from the sun — a hat is an essential part of your summer outfit! If you are traveling by plane, it’s also important to pack smart. Try to avoid bringing a laptop or tablet because they are too heavy. Try to fit everything you need for your trip into a small carry-on bag.
Stay in the shade
If you are outside, try to find shade as soon as possible when the sun is at its strongest — around 11 in the morning and 4 in the afternoon. If you can’t find shade, wear a hat and sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun’s rays. The best part of summer is spending time outside — make the most of it by being active and being mindful of your time in the sun. If you’re finding it difficult to balance the two, try to schedule outdoor activities for the cooler parts of the day and indoor activities for the peak hours (when you can use the air con).
Eat well — and often
This isn’t just a good idea for winter — it’s an essential part of any health plan! Eating well will help keep your energy levels up, your mood balanced and your immune system strong. In the summer heat, you want to avoid heavy and rich meals — think salads, fruits and smoothies. You also want to keep hydrated — a good rule of thumb is to drink 8 glasses of water a day, plus a couple more for every hour you exercise. If you aren’t a salad fan, try to add some fresh fruit or vegetables to every meal — you’ll be surprised how much better you feel after just a few days! If you find it difficult to eat at regular intervals during the day, try using a meal planning app that lets you input your daily activities and makes suggestions for when and what you should eat.
Exercise regularly
Summer is the perfect time to get active — there are loads of great outdoor events happening around this time of year, and you’ll be able to take advantage of hours of sunshine every day! Try to schedule in some form of exercise every day, even if it’s just a short walk or a yoga session before work. If you can’t find time to fit in a gym session during the week, try to schedule one in on the weekends — you deserve to have time to yourself, and it’s good to have something to look forward to! If you’re finding it difficult to pick a type of exercise to do, try finding an event that you’d like to participate in. This will give you something to work towards, and you’ll be more likely to stick to your routine and remain motivated!
Change up your routine
If you’re finding yourself getting tired or stressed out from the summer heat, try to change up your daily routine. Offer to water your friend’s plants, or take a break from the daily commute by car. If you have to be outdoors for most of the day, try to vary your route as much as possible and take breaks in the shade (or indoors!). If you are feeling too hot, crank up the air conditioning in your home. If you are feeling too cold, open your windows and let some fresh air in. Be sure to follow the tips below to keep your AC and windows in great shape and protect yourself from the dangers of extreme temperatures!
Protect yourself from UV rays
No matter how warm it feels outside, you should always wear sunscreen when you’re being exposed to the sun for a long period of time. You don’t want to risk burning or prematurely aging your skin, and you should also be mindful of protecting your eyes. However, this advice can sound very general, which is why it’s important to find the right sunscreen for you and your skin type. You want to be looking for a sunscreen that offers high SPF, a water-resistant formula and one that is free of harmful chemicals.
Conclusion
And there we have it — summer health tips that will keep you cool, happy and healthy even when it feels like it’s too hot to be indoors! Remember, it’s important to pace yourself when the weather is at its hottest. You want to make sure you’re not overdoing it and putting too much stress on your body — you want to be able to fully enjoy the long, warm summer days!
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