#SummerTime #HealthyLiving

Summer is finally here! We can all take a deep breath, venture outside and enjoy the sun. It’s the start of vacations, cookouts, festivals, beaches and so many more outdoor activities. And, as we all know, with so many opportunities to get outdoors it’s the perfect time to focus on our health. Below are a few tips to get your summer started right!

Wear sunscreen

The days are getting longer, the sun is getting brighter and the UV rays are getting harsher. According to the American Melanoma Foundation dermatologists recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater. If you are fair-skinned and sunburn easily, you may want to consider a sunscreen with a higher SPF.  sunscreen_bottles

Get out!

In other words… GET OUTSIDE and smell that fresh cut grass. Getting outside has many benefits including reducing your level of stress, increasing your fitness levels, improving your outlook and helping you focus. Take a nice walk around the block or invite some friends over for a BBQ in the backyard. You’ll feel better, it’s science!

Bring the outdoors, indoors

We all love summer for the fresh fruits, veggies and flowers. Take some time each week, head to your local farmers market and bring some of that freshness indoors. Put a vase of flowers on your kitchen counters and then add the fresh fruit to your smoothies and snacks. If you have allergies…. Maybe you should skip the flowers.

Take a real vacation

We all know that taking a vacation often leaves us feeling like we need a vacation… but does it have to? When planning your vacation actually plan it – all aspects of it. Don’t just plan the “fun stuff,” make a plan for work. Make sure you communicate with your colleagues and your boss, set boundaries for communication while you’re away (aka put the phone down and the emails away) and allow yourself to be unplugged. When you get back to work take some time to catch up – don’t schedule meetings on the first day and don’t be afraid to remind colleagues that you may not be up-to-speed on every project.

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Spend time with the ones you love

This seems like a no brainer… who wouldn’t want to spend time with the ones they enjoy most? But I think we can all agree that quality time with loved ones is something we often put on the backburner. Summer is the perfect time to put aside a few hours (or days!) and reconnect with the ones that make you happiest. Research shows that spending time with loved ones can make a huge difference in your health. Spending time together has been proven to decrease stress levels and even increase your life expectancy!

With the first “official” day of summer right around the corner, we should all take some time to focus on our health. It’s important in our PR world to stay healthy and focused – make sure you have a balanced life and I promise it will shine through in the work you do!

Do you have any plans for happiness this summer? Share below!

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