My love for summer cannot be expressed in words. The joy I get from the sunlight on my skin, feeling the warmth it generates, and how much my body relaxes when I simply lay out in it. Few things are better than that for me.
Unfortunately, summer is not all lovely warmth and can come with its own challenges, as every season does. I always notice a lot of the people around me are bothered by the heat and they are showing it. Summer self care is essential. Not only because they sweat more, but also by their skin and their behaviour.
In our modern age we think that only the weather changes as the seasons do, but so do our bodies. We are much more affected by subtle changes in our environment than most of us realize, but these changes can have a big impact in how we feel and act.
So after reading these simple summer self care tips, you’ll be able to breeze through summer like a butterfly, happy and carefree.
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skin care for summer
In the summer, your skin is more likely to be glowing. It is nourished as we often eat more fruit and lighter meals throughout the day, and it’s moisturized because our circulation works harder during summer. Your face might show some more redness than usual, as the small blood vessels in your skin expand to get rid of excess heat. As we sweat more than usual we also get rid of more toxins than usual, which is all good news for your skin!
But be careful not to overheat your skin, or expose it to too many UV rays. cool your skin down with rose water, and use a good sunblock to prevent getting burnt. It’s always good to spend plenty time in the shade, even though the sun on your skin may feel glorious.
Also be careful with air conditioning. our reactions to heat and cold are our bodies natural reactions, and when they’re caused by artificial resources it can damage our systems. It’s much harder on your body to have to adapt to the changes in temperature as often as you may have to during summer, and it can even weaken your immune system.
Hair care for summer
Your hair is taking quite the hit in summer, especially if you swim a lot. Chlorine and salt can do a number on your hair, and you’ll notice it gets drier as summer progresses.
Take care of your hair by getting a haircut before all the swimming starts, to chop off any split ends and prevent them from growing further up your hair. Then add regular hair masks or oil masks to your routine, to replenish the lost moisture as much as possible. it’s also a good idea to apply a hair oil to your ends every day. My personal favorite is argan oil, but you can also try coconut oil.
Mental wellbeing for summer
An important aspect of summer self care is mental wellbeing. I’m sure you’ve experienced the effects of summer on your mental health. Thinking becomes more difficult, and your fuse is getting shorter as the temperature rises.
It’s best to wake up early, and take advantage of the cool mornings to do potential exercise, and even to start work. When it’s cool you can think clearer, and get more work done.
As the afternoon heat is too much for your body to work out in, try doing that in the morning too. Summer is better for light or cooling exercises like stretching, walking, swimming or yoga. But especially if you want to do more strenuous exercise like running or HIIT training, do it as early as you can.
Food & Nutrition in summer
Traditionally, spring and summer is the time when your body naturally tend to shed weight. Your appetite decreases and your digestion takes a bit of a break. As your body sends more blood to the skin to get rid of excess heat, there is less blood leftover to fuel your digestive system.
Therefore, it’s essential to include food & nutrition in your summer self care plan.
During the summer days, it’s best to eat light meals focused on fruits and veggies. Save proteins and grains for the earlier morning and later evenings, when the sun is low and the temperatures are dropping.
Of course, it’s essential to drink enough during summer as your body gets rid of a lot of heat through sweat. So replenish your body with plenty of fluids, preferably water or something with electrolytes like coconut water. You can also add some lime juice and salt to water to make it easier to absorb for your body.
It’s also really good to eat foods that contain a lot of water, and help your body drive off extra moisture like cucumber, watermelon and cilantro. Blueberries, cranberries and pomegranate are also really good options to add to your diet, as they all have their own way of helping your body cope with the heat.
And that’s how you stay cool, calm and collected in summer. Summer is such a heating season, and while some people thrive in this season, you may not. So if you find yourself struggling to keep cool and function like a proper human being, these summer self care tips will help you get through the hottest summer months effortlessly. If you love self care as much as I do, remember to sign up for the self care + self love freebie right here.
If you liked this article, make sure to also read fall self care, and the ultimate self care day.
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