The pleasant summer weather brings opportunities to improve your lifestyle and start a new commitment to wellness. The following four important tips make up the wellness mantra:
1. Eat fresh. Summer is prime time for fresh produce, and incorporating fruits and vegetables into your daily menu can be a delicious way to a healthy lifestyle. With a good blender and some ingenuity, you can easily make hundreds of whole recipes that taste great. A nutrient-packed fruit smoothie takes only seconds to prepare and is sure to please even the fussiest eaters.
2. Move it. Getting in shape doesn’t need to mean hours at the gym, especially during these warmer months. Simple activities like going for a bike ride or taking your dog for a walk are good ways to get moving while enjoying the outdoors. Swimming is a great low-impact, full-body exercise that lets you work out while cooling off. Or try another sport that you wouldn’t be able to participate in during winters, such as golf, outdoor basketball or beach volleyball. Making an activity part of your routine is the best way to keep at it, so set aside sometime each day for exercise.
3. Relax. Summer is the perfect opportunity to unwind and treat yourself to some “me” time. Focus on doing things you enjoy, such as finishing that book you’ve been reading for months, learning to how to surf or play tennis or simply basking in the sunshine—with the right protection: sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat.
Whatever activity you choose, make time each week to let go and de-stress. Summer is a popular season for vacations to the beach and other outdoor destinations, but you can also find tranquility in your own backyard. Meditation and yoga—done indoors or outside—are calming activities that will leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, too.
4. Sleep. You can improve your lifestyle even when you’re not awake. Good sleep habits are essential to physical and mental well-being, and inadequate rest can curtail your efforts to eat right and exercise. Muscles need time to repair and regenerate after working hard, making proper rest a vital component of any fitness routine. Make sure your bedroom is at a comfortable temperature, adding fans or blankets as needed, and remove or turn off bright lights and electronic screens.
Get into a nightly routine, and try not to eat or exercise for at least an hour prior to going to sleep. When you’re well-rested, other aspects of your improved lifestyle will be even more effective and enjoyable.
With a few lifestyle adjustments, you’ll be on your way to happy, healthy summer living.
