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The summer is many people’s favorite time of the year. It’s warmer, the days are longer, and everything just feels much more relaxed and enjoyable. You can have barbecues and picnics, spend more time with family and friends, and generally have a great time.
However, in order to have a great time, you need to stay safe and healthy. As much as summer is a lot of fun, it can also be fraught with issues, and you need to know how to handle these as well as how to make the most of your time in the sun. Read on to find out more.
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Eat Right
As always, a very important part of staying healthy, no matter what time of year it is, is to eat right. During the winter this can be hard because it’s tempting to eat a lot of heavy comfort food, but it’s just as hard during the summer because people often attend a lot of parties, picnics, and barbecues, and the food at these events aren’t always the healthiest options. Plus, when you’re out for day trips with the family, there is ice cream, fast food, and other snacks to contend with. It’s often hard to eat well when you’re making the most of the sunshine.
Every now and then having a fun time and eating something that’s ‘bad’ for you is fine – in fact, studies show that allowing yourself a treat from time to time is healthy, at least in terms of your mental health. However, when it happens too often, it becomes very unhealthy for your physical health. Therefore, take everything in moderation, and if need be, take healthy snacks and food with you when you go out. At barbecues, make sure you have salad as well as the meat and sides. The same goes for a picnic. If you are sensible, you can enjoy yourself and still eat healthily.
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Be Active
If you’re talking about how to have a healthy summer, one of the most important things to remember is that you need to be active. People are often very sedentary during the winter months; it’s too cold to go out and have fun so they stay indoors a lot. When the weather is good, it’s worth making the time to go outside and move around. This is good for you physically and mentally.
There are so many things you can do outside, whether it’s in your own backyard or further afield, that you’ll never run out of ideas. You might do your workouts in the garden, for example, or go for long walks. You might head out on your bicycle or take a run. Or perhaps you’ll go out for the day with your family and enjoy some activities that way. You could even do something entirely different, such as get a boat license; check out ilearntoboat to get a Florida boat license and not only will you be active, but you’ll keep your brain busy too.
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Stay Cool
As mentioned, regular exercise is good, and making the most of the summer weather and positive mood will help you attain your goals in this regard, but you do also need to be careful. Exercising when it’s very hot can be dangerous and lead to fast dehydration, high blood pressure, heat stroke, and other issues. Not to mention it just won’t be enjoyable, so you won’t be motivated to do it.
If you want to be safe and healthy during the summer, you need to learn how to stay cool when necessary. One way to do this is to stay inside when the sun is strongest (between around 11am and 3pm, depending on where you live) and use the early morning and evenings to enjoy outdoor activities. If you can’t do this, make sure you find plenty of shade. Also make sure you drink plenty of water. If you wait until you feel thirsty, you’re already dehydrated, so just keep sipping through the day and you should keep yourself comfortable and healthy. When it comes to what to wear, make sure you have loose-fitting, thin clothing (sweat evaporates more quickly in this way), and always have a wide-brimmed hat.