Food, sleep and nature are just a few of the ways to get healthy this summer.
Summer is a great time to think about becoming the best version of yourself. Sun puts most people in a good mood…even if its presence is scarce on our wonderfully cloudy island. But being healthy is about more than just physical health and using crazy amounts of hand sanitiser, your emotional and mental health are also just as important!
After spending too many months cooped up with our Netflix queue, it’s about time to get out and enjoy the longer days and warmer weather. When the stars shine (however brief that may be), get outside, it’s time to boost your vitamin D reserves. There are so many benefits to spending time in nature, both physical and mental. If you’re feeling extra wild, ditch the shoes. Walking barefoot is something we should all do more of, it has countless benefits.
Summer is the best time to get active, the weather is slightly more stable, the days are longer, and motivation typically peaks around this time. Start by fitting a 30-minute walk into your daily schedule. From there, you can add in cycling, swimming, yoga, hiking, golf, or playing sports with your friends. Exercise provides a much-needed outlet for things like stress and can help improve your overall mood. Plus, any exercise you can do outdoors will give you plenty of vitamin D exposure. Just be sure to wear your sun cream so you don’t end up looking like a.
For many, when the heat of summer kicks in, appetites tend to shrink. Gone are the Sunday roast dinners and cottage pies, summertime means fresh eating. With so much fresh produce in season, now is the time for light dinners like quiches and salads, grilled veg on the barbecue, seafood, and plenty of fruit for dessert. To keep your body operating smoothly, make sure you get plenty of fibre. Things like broccoli, apples, beans, raspberries, and potatoes are great sources of dietary fibre and will keep you operating like clockwork.
With much longer days, it’s incredibly tempting to stay out longer to take advantage of the brightness before the winter kicks in. That’s all well and good, but the to staying healthy is ensuring you get enough sleep. It’s so good for your body to keep a regular schedule — this will motivate your brain to start producing normal melatonin doses at the right time. You’ll also find you have a ton more energy if you give your body the rest it needs.
Naturally, once the weather improves, everyone hits the patios and beer gardens for a pint or two. Just keep an eye out on how much you’re actually drinking. Things like coffee and beer work to dehydrate your body, which can leave you feeling sluggish. If the temps are high, excessive sweating can be another major cause of dehydration. Try to give your body what it needs and make sure you drink enough.
You don’t have to go far to reap the benefits of a vacation. Getting a change of scenery is one of the best things you can do for your mental health. It’s easy to get bogged down by the same routine, so change it up. Go somewhere you’ve always wanted to: visit the Brighton Pier, check out Cornwall’s great beaches, head up to the Isle of Skye for a visit to the Old Man of Storr, or take them over for a pint of the black stuff.
Mental health and emotional health often get overlooked when it comes to being healthy. We believe that health is about more than just what you can see. One of the best ways to deal with mental and emotional health is to pick up a new hobby. Whether that be painting, learning a new language, journaling, knitting, doing puzzles or crosswords, or even bird watching, just choose something that makes you feel good and gives you an outlet. The summer is a great time to put yourself out there, join a club and make some new friends.
Creating a healthy environment will help you thrive even when the warm weather starts to disappear and the shorter days set in. Listen to your body — it’ll tell you what you need to know. Looking for some more new things to try this summer? Check out 9 Things to Do Near Home This Summer!
Bonus way to stay healthy this summer is to get financially healthy. Financial wellbeing is key to all-around health, so writing a will or purchasing a life insurance policy can be great ways to step up your game. At Bequest, we make it easy to create and update your policy, reach out for more information!