Pedicures, haircuts, facials, a quick spray tan and an extra workout session here and there are just a few of the ways that most of us get our bods ready for summer. While you’re getting prepped for tank top weather and swimsuit season, why not look into the other ways you should be taking care of your body (and mind) for summer! Here are 10 healthy ways to get your body in great shape for the summer!
Practice Mindful Eating
You may have spent the colder months mindlessly indulging in comfort food, but now that the temperatures are rising it’s time to get into mindful eating. Studies show mindful eating can help you eat less and lose weight. Joyce Faraj, PhD, RDN, a nutritionist at Mountainside Treatment Center in Canaan, Connecticut says, “A lot of us are guilty of eating while we’re at our desks, watching TV, or just bored, so we’re not really paying attention to what we’re putting in our bodies or how much we’re consuming”. To practice mindful eating, eat only when you’re hungry. Focus on the flavors, colors, textures and smells of what you’re eating. After about 20 minutes take a break- that’s about the amount of time that your body needs to signal to your brain that you’re full and satisfied.
Remember to Wash Your Hands
As the seasons change we are often susceptible to catching a cold. To avoid getting a summer cold, make sure to wash your hands often! Along with washing your hands, wipe down hard surfaces and avoid touching your face and mouth after you’ve been out in public. If you’re a fan of hand sanitizer, Charles “Dr. Germ” Gerba, MD, microbiologist and professor at the University of Arizona, suggests using Zoono. This hand sanitizer will protect your hands from germs for up to 24 hours after you’ve applied it!
Make The Most of Your Commute
Commuting can take up a huge chunk of our lives. If you feel like your commute is meddling with your health, it’s time to take control! Change up your routine and breathe new life into your commute. Take a different route to work! Even if it’s a bit longer you can use the extra time to listen to a podcast or reflect while you get ready for the day ahead. If you can, try to bike or walk to work or the train station. If you’re worried about working up a sweat, try a Trek Bike! A Trek Bike makes it possible to pedal faster while covering more ground so that you won’t over exert yourself!
Review Your Personal Care Routine
Did you skip your dentist appointments during those bitter cold winter months? Maybe you skipped things like wearing SPF daily or regularly changing your sheets. Get back in the swing of things by committing to making (and keeping) important doctor and dental visits, applying SPF in the morning and flossing at least once a day.
Refresh Your Workout Routine
We understand how tough it can be to stick to a workout routine when the days are shorter and much colder. Now is the time to take advantage of longer, sunnier days and warmer temps! If you lightened up on your workout routine or you abandoned it all together, make sure that you slowly ease back into the rhythm of exercising. Jimmy McKay, PT, DPT, a physical therapist and director of communications at FOX Rehabilitation in Cherry Hill, New Jersey suggests, “Warm up and don’t go fast and furious right out of the gate”. He continues, “Take the first ten minutes of any workout to start moderately, which means you’re able to have a conversation while moving. Then, ramp up to a point where your breathing is labored and you can only get a few words out before taking another breath.”
Refresh Your Yoga Practice
If yoga is something that you regularly practice but you’ve been feeling a little bored with your routine, breathe new life into your practice by adding an invigorating scent that will clear your mind. Ginger Ravenscroft, aromatherapy expert and founder of Ravenscroft Escentials in Grants Pass, Oregon recommends, “A blend of sandalwood, frankincense, and myrrh is used by yoga practitioners for quieting the mind chatter.” Other useful combinations are: Lavender, geranium, chamomile, vetiver is helpful to calm your mind and arborvitae, grapefruit, lemon, lemongrass, wild orange for cleansing and purification.
Set a Social Media Curfew
Social media is always there for us when we want to catch up with our family and friends. It also helps to keep us up to date with the latest news and pop culture. As much as we know how beneficial social media is to our busy lives, Steve Levine, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist and founder and CEO of Actify Neurotherapies, cautions that social media is extremely harmful to our emotional and mental health if not used in moderation. Surprisingly, social media takes an even larger toll on our wellbeing during the summer months! Social media posts during the summer tends to revolve around exciting vacation photos, beachy backdrops and tanned, toned summer bods. These images can create envy, jealousy and depression. A study from the University of Pittsburgh School Of Medicine discovered that the more time young adults spent on social media the more common it was for them to be depressed. Reduce the amount of time you spend on social media by picking up a new hobby, exercising, and filling up your schedule with social activities.
Consider Plant Based Eating
You don’t need to adopt a strict vegetarian or vegan diet this summer to receive the benefits of a plant-based diet. Adopting a plant-based diet will help you get nutrients like protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that crush inflammation. All you need to do to reap these benefits is set aside one day of the week to go meatless. Load your meals up with veggies, fruits, whole grains and healthy proteins such as legumes, tempeh, beans or other meat alternatives like Gardein, Field Roast or Beyond Burger.
Develop a New Sleeping Ritual
As much as you’ve been looking forward to the longer days, those prolonged sunny evenings may make it harder to fall asleep. If you have to get to bed early, it may be near impossible to get to bed. If you need help unwinding before bed, try a diffuser with calming essential oils. There are even custom blends that are specially formulated to help you fall asleep like Ravenscroft Escentials Good Nite Aroma Body Drops.
