For most college students, summer is officially here. The months of stress are finally behind us. Maybe you gained a little weight from stress eating, or perhaps the strenuous schoolwork negatively affected your sleep pattern. Whatever the case may be, don't beat yourself up for not having the time to maintain the physically and mentally fit body you hoped to have achieved by the start of summer. It's never too late to focus on yourself. Now that summer is here, there is no doubt you have a little more time on your hands. Let's utilize this time to focus on ourselves instead of hating ourselves for what we failed to achieve by now. A negative attitude will only lead to a negative mindset toward a healthy lifestyle - we've all gone through that, "Well I missed my chance this summer...there's always next summer" way of thinking. Guess what? You haven't missed your chance. This is actually your opportunity. If we go through the entire summer with that negative mindset, odds are we won't as feel confident with ourselves as we would if we started being healthy right now. I can tell you from experience that after only one week of a healthy lifestyle, I always feel ten times more confident and happy than I did before. So let's make this summer a healthy one so we can enjoy it with a positive mindset. Here are a few simple ways to stay both physically and mentally fit this summer:
1. Always keep a water bottle on hand.
If you always have a filled water bottle near you, you're most likely going to drink more water. Simple as that. I like to buy cute inexpensive water bottles from Walmart so I feel like I'm actually being "fit". Fill it to the top with ice water. If you're craving something sweet, try fruit infused water and fill it with berries. My favorite is a detox water filled with lemon and cucumbers - it's the perfect refreshing drink for the summer.
2. Start the morning off with a good breakfast.
Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. If you skip it, you'll most likely find yourself snacking throughout the day. Breakfast gives you the energy you need to jumpstart your day. Try looking up healthy breakfast ideas on Pinterest. My favorite is a simple smoothie bowl blended with frozen mixed berries, Greek yogurt, spinach, and almond milk. Top that off with some fresh berries, granola, and goji berries and you have yourself a fulfilling summer breakfast.
3. Go for a walk.
Whether if it's alone or with a friend, walking is great for you. If you're alone, I find walking is a good way to clear your mind - no electronics, just you and the open air. If you're with a friend, it's a great way to catch up and get off everything that's on your mind.
4. Turn that walk into a jog/run.
Try it in intervals. Start with a light jog, then try running for a bit. If you get tired, power walk and then start up again. Make a playlist beforehand. Set goals and challenge yourself to run further distances each time.
5. Stretch when you wake up in the morning.
Maybe you slept funny or you just are generally tense in the morning. Stretching is a great way to wake yourself up at ease. Look up stretches to do in bed or some simple floor stretches you can do for five minutes.
6. Try a yoga class.
Yoga is incredibly beneficial to both your physical and mental health. If you check out Groupon they actually have a ton of deals for yoga class packages. Sign up with a friend so you feel more comfortable going.
7. Take mid-day naps.
I think we can all agree that sleep is our best friend. If you're feeling tired mid-day, why not take a 20 minute or even two hour nap. This will give you extra energy for whatever you have going on at night. If you have a hammock or any place that allows you to sleep outside, do it. Falling asleep to a breeze and the sound of birds is therapeutic.
8. Try meditation.
Sit outside or in a quiet area inside and just clear your mind. Don't look at a screen, just focus on your breathing. Five minutes of this won't kill you.
9. Read.
Reading is the best way to spend your time, especially in the summer. It's a great way to enhance brain activity, especially now that school is over. Reading is the perfect time-killer instead of being on your phone or watching T.V. Take the time to go through a book store and find books you'll actually enjoy reading.
10. Avoid sitting on the couch all day.
Once in a while we need a good day of rest to just binge-watch whatever we want, but too much can be harmful. Your body isn't active, and odds are you'll most likely start snacking while watching.
11. Go swimming.
Obviously on a hot day who wouldn't want to go in a pool. Instead of just jumping in once and floating around try doing some laps while you're in there. It's the perfect full body workout. Not to mention you can rest afterward by laying out by the pool and getting a tan.
12. Keep yourself busy.
Do something you enjoy doing but usually don't have time to do during the school year. For me, it's painting. Try picking up a new hobby to keep yourself busy and active!
13. Make sure to get enough sleep.
Sleep is a huge contributor to both physical and mental health. Make sure you get enough sleep each night. A lack of sleep can lead to weight gain. Not to mention your entire next day can be negatively affected.
14. Focus on healthy eating.
Summer is definitely a time to socialize with friends, and odds are you're going to treat yourself to a few cheat meals every now and then. However, don't allow this to steer you away from a healthy eating pattern! There is nothing worse than feeling bloated in a swimsuit. Make a fresh salad for lunch, or substitute vegetables in for a snack.
