Five Tips to Help You Stay Healthy this Summer

There is no question mental health and physical health are largely connected, so when you take care of your body, you’re also taking care of your mind. Here are five things you can do this summer to help you take care of yourself.

1. Get your rest. Aim to get seven to nine hours of sleep a night. To help make your sleep more comfortable, keep your room cool and shades pulled.

2. Move your body. Outdoor exercise can be uncomfortable in the summer months, especially on hotter days! To combat the heat, try exercising in the morning hours before the sun is at its peak or in the evening when the temperatures begin to ease. If neither of these options are available, break up your exercise sessions by going for shorter walk breaks throughout your day.

3. Connect with others. Plan something fun with family or friends. Socializing and spending time around others helps boost your mood and keeps you from ruminating on negative thoughts. If you aren’t feeling like being in a crowded space, connect via the phone or video calls. Connecting with even one person a day can help you feel like you are part of a community.

4. Stay hydrated. While the standard goal is to drink eight glasses of water each day, during the summer months you should really aim to drink more. To keep your palate from growing bored with plain water, consider putting frozen berries, citrus slices, cucumber, or mint leaves in your water. Opting for snacks with high-water content such as watermelon, cantaloupe, tomatoes, and cucumbers can also help increase your water intake.

5. Wear sunscreen. At all times, wear SPF 30 or greater! Whether running errands or going for a “short walk,” ultraviolet exposure increases somewhere between four and 10 percent for every 1,000 feet above sea level.

We hope you have a safe, happy, healthy summer!

sleep a night. To help make your sleep more comfortable, keep your room cool and shades pulled.