4 Healthy Habits To Start In The Summer

As the summer begins, it’s time to take all that new energy and put it to good use! Now is the perfect time to start forming good health habits. With the sun out and our schedule looking a bit less stressful, how can we resist making some healthy changes?

1. Take Epsom Salt Baths

Summer is the time for relaxation and recovery. For many of us, the summer is a precursor for the busy Fall and Winter months, so it’s imperative that we prepare our bodies for the stress it’ll have to endure in the next 10 weeks. After a long day, soaking in a bath (with some scented oils and tea bags) is the perfect way to unwind! But adding Epsom salts is even better – because it has magnesium! Magnesium is an essential (i.e., needed) mineral, and most of us are deficient in it. Soak for about 20 minutes and voila! 

2. Get Rid of Sugary Beverages

Seriously. We know summer is the time for lemonade and mimosas, but there’s so many better alternatives! Sugary drinks have been linked to an increased risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and even an early death. Sugary drinks include pop, sweet tea, flavored coffees, and sports drinks. Maybe we can treat ourselves occasionally, but instead of walking into our jobs with an iced coffee in tote (they’re so delicious!) maybe we can swap it out with water infused with fruit like lemon, strawberries, pineapple, or honeydew!

3. Start Journaling

Health is more than just the body – it’s the mind, too. We have to take care of our mental health just as much as we do our physical health, especially since they often times go hand in hand. Journaling everyday is a great way to start being more mindful about who you are and what you want. It can be old-fashioned and start of with a “Dear diary…”, or it can be more modern and it can be a bullet journal. The greatest thing about journaling is that there is no right way to do it, so there’s no pressure!

4. Wear Sunscreen

Okay, so we hate to be mom-like, but wearing sunscreen is so important! We really should be wearing it all year round (because the sun is never really away) but the summer is a great time to start! Skin cancer can affect everyone of every race (myths that people with more melanin in their skin are immune are ridiculous). Our skin is our biggest organ, and deserves just as much care and protection as the rest of our body! Try mixing it in a daily moisturizer.

Every season is an opportunity for growth and positive changes! Our society has a magic bullet fixation, waiting for the next miracle drug to cure us of every ill, but honestly? Good health and wellness only comes from dedication. There are no cheats. But there are easy fixes that allow for us to maintain our bodies and minds!