Self-improvement happens in various ways. People might take up a new hobby or join a gym to feel stronger and more confident. Summer is the perfect time to make a positive change in your life because you’re ready to get outside and try something new. These are 11 easy ways to enhance your overall health this summer without requiring a big budget or too much time.
1. Solidify Your Sleep Routine
The sun sets later in the evening during the summer months but maintaining your sleep schedule is still crucial. Your body needs an average of eight hours of sleep every night so it can recharge. If you’re struggling to fall asleep because it isn’t dark until later at night, hang blackout curtains or wear a sleep mask are great ways to improve your sleep so your body gets the rest it needs to stay healthy.
2. Keep Water Bottles Nearby
Find a reusable water bottle in a fun design so you always have water nearby. Rising temperatures will cause you to sweat more intensely and require frequent hydration to keep up with your internal processes. Drink water often so you always have the strength to keep going through the heat without taking energy away from crucial things like your immune or digestive systems.
3. Spend Time With Friends
Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Spending time with friends will cheer you up and ease damaging mental health conditions like depression. Make plans to meet for dinner, attend a summer festival or even go on vacation with each other to benefit from the joy of hanging out with people you love.
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4. Stretch Every Day
Stretching could be a new technique you try this summer to enhance your overall health. It prevents injuries by improving your range of motion and enhances your blood circulation by gently working your muscles. Stretch for a few minutes every day to notice a difference in how easily your body moves and how easily you can relieve muscle aches.
5. Eat Breakfast Daily
Your body goes into a fasting period while you sleep every night. It needs whole foods and nutrients to get going in the morning. Skipping breakfast prevents your body from fueling essential functions and energizing your mind. Eat breakfast every day to feel better, balance your blood sugar and defeat episodes of morning drowsiness.
6. Wash Your Sheets
Your sheets collect dirt and dead skin cells every night, so you should wash them at least every two weeks. Dirty sheets could irritate your respiratory system and even house growing colonies of bacteria. Wash white sheets with bleach and laundry detergent to remove any lingering dirt, bacteria and microscopic debris that could make you sick.
7. Practice Routine Meditation
You don’t need a private room away from the world to benefit from meditating. Whenever your stress starts to chip away at your mental health, practice the 4-7-8 breathing technique to lower your anxiety. Living with less stress is better for your body and mind. Mediation is free and easy to do anywhere, so practice it and see how it helps during busy summer weeks.
8. Sanitize Your Dish Sponge
Bacteria love to grow in damp conditions, so your kitchen sponge is their perfect home. Tiny pieces of food can also wedge into the sponge and fuel mold growth. You can always replace your sponges, but people also sanitize their kitchen sponges frequently by running them through the dishwasher or soaking them in vinegar. Cleaning your sponge at least once a week makes it safer to hand wash your dishes.
9. Prioritize Evening Walks
Exercising outdoors is the last thing people want to do when it’s nearly 100 degrees outside. Wait until after dinner to enjoy evening walks. It’s a simple way to prioritize your exercise routine without risking overexertion or intense dehydration. Walking will get your blood flowing, loosen your muscles and give you a few minutes of crucial cardio to strengthen your body.
10. Evaluate Your Diet
Enjoy the backyard barbecues and beachside picnics, but make time this summer to evaluate your diet. Do your regular meals include foods high in sugar, processed ingredients or saturated fats? According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), a healthy diet remains low in those ingredients while focusing on whole foods, proteins and low-fat products.
Changing your diet will have a significant positive impact on your health. Even changing one meal a day will boost things like your immune system and cellular regeneration by giving your body the nutrients it needs to thrive.
11. Drink Iced Green Tea
Iced tea hits the spot on sunny afternoons, so opt for a glass of cold green tea when you want something refreshing. It’s good for your health because it’s full of antioxidants that reduce the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes, obesity and cancer. Use it as a powerful daily tool to preserve your health while enjoying some time in the shade.
Enhance Your Overall Health This Summer
Anyone can use these tips to reach their goals while having fun. You’ll easily enhance your overall health this summer and continue to feel great when fall breezes and tumbling leaves roll back through town.