Summer is in full swing and loaded with soccer, swimming, camps, and travels. With both kids home from school and working from home, my self-care can easily go waaaay on the back burner. Maybe you can relate? But, summer is about taking the time to rejuvenate and restore and build energy and stamina for the colder days ahead. Today, I want to share some tips to keep your summer self-care simple and still a part of the routine (and some insight into what I am doing this summer).
- Eat Loads of Greens.
I have been looking forward to the return of our CSA season up here in Alaska precisely for the mass quantity of greens we would receive each week and the wide diversity. (Including many greens I have never heard of!)
Greens are the great cleaner-uppers in the body and with summer, we are typically eating less heavy food and more lighter fare which naturally lends our bodies to some deeper cleaning. Incorporating more greens helps move out the garbage so to speak and ounce for ounce, greens are packed with vitamins such as A, C and folate, as well as magnesium, potassium and iron.
Greens are in large supply right now, so challenge yourself to get some greens into at least 2 meals a day. (Maybe 3?!) But, mix it up. Incorporate them into salads, smoothies, stir-fries, curries, soups, frittatas, skillets, etc. This is a great opportunity to try new recipes and new types of greens. (Last night my daughter declared the meal was going to be ‘horrible’ and then while quickly eating it all, recounted that statement and said it was ‘delicious’! I was hiding mustard greens in the mix, and we ultimately had a winner! You never know!)
2. Get Out in the Sun.
This actually has two benefits, 1) to get more vitamin D and 2) To incorporate more fun. Finding joy in your day is just as important as eating well, exercising and meditating. What can you do each day that gets you outside soaking up some rays and enjoying summer?
3. Commit to Exercise at Least 3x a week.
Everywhere you turn there is yet another study explaining the importance of movement for overall health. All with good reason, movement gets the blood circulating, stretches and strengthens your muscles, keeps your body aligned, burns glucose but most importantly, it boosts endorphins and just makes you happy.
4. Incorporate Down Time.
With the summer sun, it is super-tempting to just go-go-go all summer long, but this is also a great time to sit on the back deck and read a book, spend some time journaling, or incorporate more hot Epsom salt baths to make up for all the extra activity on your muscles. I have come to love the quiet, solitude of my bath and find it noticeable when I miss being able to make it a regular practice.
My Epsom Salt Bath Mix
2 Cups Epsom Salts
½ cup Baking Soda
½ t vitamin C powder (to neutralize the chlorine in the water)
Essential Oils as desired!
As Benjamin Franklin said, “When the well is dry, we know the worth of water.” Carving out the time to take care of me helps me problem solve, settle my brain, release tension and ultimately have more energy for the next day. How does it help you?
What self-care intentions do you have this summer? Share in the comments below! I’d love to hear!