Listen Up: Here Are Some of the Best Summer Health Ideas for Women

Summertime and the living’s easy — or so it seems.

In reality, the stressors of summer can make this wonderful time of year all the more draining, especially this year. Between worrying about the threat of the coronavirus, remembering to put on sunscreen, and eating healthy, the summertime isn’t as easy as it used to be. Even if we weren’t in the midst of a global pandemic, the fear of missing out and stretching yourself too thin between work and home are ever-present issues. Even though

However, the summer also offers a unique opportunity to better yourself in more ways than one. Even though the COVID-19 pandemic has put most of our summer plans on the backburner, there are plenty of ways to better prioritize your health.

It’s likely that 2020 will keep throwing countless trials and tribulations our way. Whether you’re trying to work on your physical health or mental health, rely on these summer health ideas with women in mind.

Fuel your body with the right stuff

The old adage you are what you eat is especially important during the summer when you want to have more energy to take part in the things that you love.

The first tip is to drink plenty of water. Even if you’re spending most of your time inside, the heat and humidity can be enough to get to anyone. Drinking plenty of water will help keep your body hydrated and prevent the deleterious health issues associated with heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Here are just some of the signs of heat exhaustion that you should know so you can better identify this issue in your friends:

• Excessive sweating and clammy, cold skin
• High internal temperature
• Lethargy and fatigue
• Feeling faint

Drinking water will help ease these symptoms but it’s important to enter a cool place with air conditioning if you can. It might be worth investing in AC repair if you havne’t updated your HVAC unit this year.

Along with drinking plenty of water, it’s also key to fuel your body with the right food. Stock your refrigerators with healthy food to keep your energy levels high. Summer means that there are plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to choose from at your local market. Be sure to wear a mask and bring your own bag when you visit the farmer’s market. Even though COVID-19 has us practicing social distancing, it’s likely that your local market has taken precautions to keep folks safer. In some cases, your market might even offer the best breakfast specials to start your day off on the right foot.

An easy way to get more vitamins into your diet is by taking supplements or chopping up your favorite fruits to put in your water. Fill a jug with water and adorn it with lemon, watermelon, or limes for an additional — natural — flavor boost. Just try to drink it through a straw since too much citric acid is bad for your teeth. Healthy foods aren’t always the best for your dental care regimen, so washing them down your orange with a glass of water, then brushing your teeth can help keep your enamel strong.

It isn’t always easy to eat right when you’re surrounded by delicious ice cream, savory grilled meats, and the occasional summer party (with social distancing, of course). Indulging every once in a while is fine but the best summer health ideas recommend eating right to keep your body strong.

Get the proper healthcare when you need it

The best summer health ideas involve monitoring your health before it gets out of hand. Taking a proactive approach to maintaining your health could save you plenty of headaches down the line — literally.

For example, gastroenterology issues could start at any age. Teenagers are losing their gallbladders, adults are suddenly experiencing ulcers; you never know when you might experience a sudden health issue. Knowing who to talk to about your concern is pivotal in getting the right help. Don’t hesitate to reach out to a gastroenterologist and your primary care physician when you need help.

Knowing where to go for the right care is also important when it comes to common summer ailments like poison ivy rashes and sprained ankles. Even a bad sunburn could require medical attention if it starts to blister or rash up. While you should always wear sunscreen when venturing outdoors, you might forget to reapply after a dip in the pool. Take a proactive approach to protecting yourself this summer so you don’t need to seek medical attention from the start.

Speaking of being proactive, it’s better to quit smoking sooner than later. Switching to vaping will help prevent those carcinogens from wreaking havoc on your lungs. Look for vaping supplies when you’re trying to quit for the long haul.

Imporant summer health ideas: Safety edition

Here are some of the best ways to prevent accidents from happening in the first place:

• Wear the right gear when participating in sports: Are you into boating? Before you visit your local powersports dealership, you might want to read up on the safety laws pertaining to boating regulations. You need at least one life jacket per person and a flare gun to signal the shore should something go awry. But even if you’re not into boating, wearing a helmet while riding a bike, wearing knee pads while rollerblading, and using a mouthguard at your soccer game will save your health later.
• Protect yourself from sunburns: Bring sunscreen with you wherever you go! A good rule of thumb is to reapply sunscreen every couple of hours. If you can, try to cover your shoulders with a light jacket or wrap to deflect the sun’s rays. You can also buy a large hat, wear sunglasses to protect your vision, and seek shade when the sun gets too hot.
• Wear insect repellant: While mosquito-borne illnesses are less common in the United States, tick-borne viruses are plentiful. Whether you’re hiking in the nearby hills or simply enjoying an evening stroll, try to put on bug repellant to keep insects at bay. Not only can this save you from a potential disease, but it can also admonish those nasty summer bug bites that itch and hurt.
• Get your car inspected: This tip doesn’t directly relate to your health, but it could have a major impact on your safety. Regular car maintenance is a vital factor in being a responsible car owner. This includes taking your car in at the first sign of trouble. As soon as that light pops up on your dash, you should be running to your nearest auto brake service location. If you don’t regularly maintain your car’s health, you could be putting yourself and other drivers at risk of an accident. If you’re found to be the at-fault driver, you’ll also have to shell out for bail bonds to make it out of jail. No one hopes to get into an accident, but negligence is one of the most common ways we damage our health.

Safety is an important component to consider when you’re thinking of the best summer health ideas. But let’s focus on some mental health ideas to ease your stress this year.

2020 is a stressful year: Focus on mindfulness

There’s no doubt that 2020 has been one of the most stressful years on record. From a global pandemic to civilian deaths to fires in Australia, just about everyone has been impacted by stress in one way or another. Luckily, the best summer health ideas don’t just encompass physical health: mental health matters just as much.

As mentioned earlier, the typical summer mental health issues usually revolve around work/life balancing, the fear of missing out (FOMO), and seasonal affective disorder. It can make people feel like they need to push aside their anxiety since they feel like they should be enjoying summer. Unfortunately, this can have the opposite effect.

Summer stress is serious, whether you’re coping with anxiety or going through relationship issues. You might even be struggling to find a quality divorce attorney this year as the cherry on top of an otherwise chaotic six months. The best way to combat stress and feel more present in the moment is through mindfulness.

Mindfulness can do more than just ease your stress. It can also improve your ability to focus, give you better tools to manage your pain (both physical and emotional), and help you connect with others since you’re more in tune with yourself. In some cases, practicing mindfulness can even alleviate symptoms of depression along with your anxiety.

Here are some of the best mindfulness tips to consider when you’re perusing summer health ideas:

• Try meditating through an app or via a YouTube video for inspiration. It can be hard to start meditating on your own. Relying on someone to guide you through the steps can help you build the skills to do it more in the future. Meditation doesn’t work for everyone, but when it’s successful, you’ll feel more connected to your environment, more relaxed, and more present in the moment. You can try meditating on the floor or going outside for some sunshine. After all, summer health ideas often incorporate getting into nature.
• Become more thankful. Each day, we’re bombarded by stressors. Whether you’re worn down from your work, your relationship, or your social life (or lack thereof because of COVID-19) taking a moment to be thankful for the good things in your life can make a huge difference. Each day, try writing down three things that make you happy. This could be something small, like the smell of your shampoo. Or it could be something timely like that new Netflix special that just came out. Try to write down new things that you love each day at the same time. Doing it at the same time will help ground you each day and help to cement the habit.
• Work on separating yourself from your thoughts. This can seem impossible since our internal monologue is always yammering on about one thing or another, even if they’re good things like summer health ideas. But sometimes, intrusive thoughts can make us feel like terrible people. This is especially common when you try meditating for the first time. Let these thoughts go and try to remember all the good that you’ve done. Just because you have a momentary lapse in good thoughts doesn’t mean you’re the culmination of your bad thoughts. It won’t be easy but it will get better over time.

When you want to bolster your mental health, there’s a lot of self-soothing techniques that you can work on on your own. However, relying on the help of a mental health professional when you need it is key. If you’re feeling overwhelmed don’t hesitate to get help.

Whether you’re trying to practice mindfulness or just improve your health in general this summer, there are a few summer health ideas to consider. Try these out and let us know what worked for you! Stay safe and stay healthy!