By: Asma Ayyaz, Surrey
Some people enjoy the heat more, some people enjoy the cold more. However, whatever your preference is, there are always going to be positives to reap from the weather. The climate that you’re living in and the weather can have a more serious impact on your body than you may imagine. Hence, it’s important to understand the effect of this weather and the benefits of summer that can help you be healthier and happier. Read on to find out more.
You Get Exposed to More Sunlight
Hot weather is good because you get more sunlight. When your body is exposed to more sunlight, it produces more Vitamin D. Higher Vitamin D levels directly correlate to a lower risk of cancer, higher energy levels, stronger bones and many more tangible benefits for your body. Even though Vitamin D can be consumed orally, your primary source of this nutrient should be derived from the sun as it is possible to consume too much of this nutrient in the form of a supplement.
The summer is the best time to enjoy the sunlight because the hot weather allows you to bask in the heat outdoors, unlike the winter period when you fear extreme weather conditions.
Hot Weather Encourages You to Exercise More Hot weather is evidently more appealing for a day of exercise than rainy, gloomy weather. As you grow older, exercise becomes more important for your lifestyle because it helps cardiovascular health, flexibility and mobility. These are all important physical traits to prevent your health from declining.
The Summer Decreases Your Stress Levels
Seasonal Affective Disorder is caused during winter, when feelings of tiredness, low mood or depression begin to set in due to the shorter daylight hours and poor weather. On the contrary, the longer and warmer summer days bring with them feelings of exuberance. Furthermore, the hot summer weather brings more opportunities for you to meet up and hang out with your loved ones which also helps to contribute to lower stress.
The Heat Helps to Improve Your Memory
When your body temperature is high, you’re more likely to be alert and mentally sharper. For those struggling with memory-loss-related illnesses, you might experience that during the winter months, you’re more likely to forget things. Meanwhile, in the summer, your memory gets better because the surrounding temperatures are higher as well.
The Warm Weather is Safer
Another reason why summer is beneficial is because of the general safety. Driving in summer might be easier and safer than in the colder months when there is snow and ice on the roads which results in lower visibility. Additionally, if you live in a particularly cold area, the chances of being snowed in and being unable to seek medical attention if you need to is also higher. Meanwhile, the benefit of the warmer months is that it’s easier and safer to commute around.
Well, then how to enjoy summer?
Kids are getting out of school, and family vacations, beach outings, BBQs and many other fun summer activities we all love to do are in full swing. Although most of us work during the summer, it’s also a time to enjoy and relax.
Learning to truly unwind and unplug will help us become happier and more balanced, and recharge our physical and spiritual batteries.
1. Take some time to spend outdoors. When we spend our time in nature, it naturally calms us and gives us a feeling of inner peace. The bonus is natural sunlight, which gives us our vitamin D – great for the bones and a mood booster.
2. Unplug from technology.
Use the summer as an excuse to be in vacation mode. Even if you only can do this once a week, take that time to connect to nature by unplugging from technology.
3. Start a fitness program that is fun and adventurous. Go hiking, bike riding, etc. Do something new and fun! Make it better by bringing a friend.
4. Slow down. It’s summer; start living mindfully by doing one task at a time, enjoying the beauty around you and living in the moment.
5. Spend time with friends and family. Set up date nights and fun nights! The days are longer, so it’s a great time to really go out and have fun!
6. Do activities you really love. Read the book you never had time to, take a day trip to a new town and see new sights or go to the beach and relax. Whatever brings you “flow.” This is the time to do it.
7. Step outside of your comfort zone. Try something new. It can be something simple like trying a new drink or food or going to a new restaurant. Every time we try something new, we take a risk and feel a boost of happiness.
8. Use up your personal time from work and have some free time with no expectations. It doesn’t matter if you go on vacation or just take a walk; just enjoy some time off!
9. Create some “me time.” I wake up 10 minutes earlier in the summer to sit outside on my deck with my coffee and just enjoy the silence. All you need to do is take 10-15 minutes a day for you!
10. Breathe. Even with nice weather and longer days, we still can get stressed. So, when you feel the stress coming, take a moment to close your eyes and take a deep breath. It works!
Email: asmashums@gmail.com
