Summer is well and truly here, making everything feel so much better and brighter. As we all start to spend more time outdoors and enjoying the warmer weather, it’s easy for our minds to start thinking about becoming healthier.
The sun is a great motivator for healthier living, so now is the perfect time for you and your family to take charge of their wellbeing to live a healthy lifestyle.
Ready for a new challenge? Here’s how you can get the whole family healthier this summer.
Get up, get going
With all that glorious weather to look forward to, why would you want to spend the day in bed? Make the effort to get out of bed early and plan your days so that you can all have something to look forward to. You’ll want to make the most of these sunny days, so get up earlier and be more productive and leave those lazy habits in bed. Check out 101 free family summer activities for inspiration on the things you can do.
Be more active
An active family is a happy one, so getting some regular exercise as a family can help you all to become fitter and healthier. There are some fun ways to workout as a family that will allow you to all become strong, healthy and to have more energy. Some basic cardio like walking is great for building up your fitness, so start getting into the habit of taking a family walks each day.
Keep up with health checks
Are all of your family’s health checks up to date? Check when your last appointments were for things like the dentist, allergy clinic, eye tests and any other regular appointments you need to keep up. Mark them on your calendar and set reminders on your phone so that you don’t forget.
Drink more water
Water is one of the most vital things that our bodies need to function. In the summer months, in particular, we need a lot of water to avoid dehydration. Many kids will refuse to drink water, preferring soft drinks instead, but you can get your children to drink more water using tricks such as infusing it with fruit, buying them a cool bottle to drink from and adding some flavour to it. Keeping ice cold bottles in the freezer or fridge is a good way to stay cool during the summer months and ensure that you all feel refreshed.
Eat healthier
Eating a healthy diet is important for all the family. By eating healthy, you’ll develop stronger immune systems as well as maintain a good weight. It’s easier said than done sometimes, as busy family life can easily take over, making you want to reach for the takeout menus and convenience food.
Take a look at some healthy family dinner recipes that you can all help make together. Teaching your kids how to cook and make food from an early age will teach them some healthier eating habits later on so that they don’t go out into the world not knowing how to rustle up a meal.
In the summer, it can be hard to avoid situations where there’s plenty of food and the drinks are flowing. If you host your own barbeque, make sure you include some healthy options to stop everyone from eating too much.
Get more sleep
Getting the right amount of sleep can be tough. In the summer, in particular, it can be hard to drift off – leaving everyone feeling a bit grumpy. Take a look at some tips for improving your kids’ bedtime routine to make sure they get the sleep they need.
Cooling down in the summer heat isn’t easy, but there are some things you can do to make sure you get to sleep easier. A cool shower before bed is a great way to cool down in the heat while changing your bedding to cotton bedding can also help. Try not to stay up too late because the evenings are longer, an early night’s sleep is a must for enjoying summer activities during the daytime.
Talk to each other
How good are your family at communicating? If you’re not sure what’s going on in your family’s lives or you feel like you’re losing touch – make more of an effort to talk to each other. A daily gathering around the dinner table for breakfast or dinner is a great way to catch up on everything that’s happening and could help you spot any problems or issues you were unaware of before. Talk to each other about your concerns so that everyone can help find a solution together.
Ditch the technology
Both parents and children can be guilty of spending too much time on their phones, laptops or tablets, ignoring each other in favor of tapping away at a screen. Too much time spent using technology can have some ill effects. Social media affects teenage health more than you might realize, so if you notice your teen is spending too much time online – help them break a habit. Try to impose rules like no phones at the dinner table or while you’re watching TV – soon everyone will feel much happier and you’ll be more willing to speak to each other.
Have everyone pitch in
Running a household is a lot of pressure for parents, who can struggle to find the time to do it all with jobs to go to. Teach your kids some responsibility by having them help with the household chores. There are things your children can do such as folding laundry, washing dishes and even hoovering that they can do around the house that will save you time and stress. The sooner you enforce the habit, the sooner you can look forward to sharing the load.
Taking steps to get the family healthy now is a great way to prepare for summer adventures, as well as look forward to a healthier life. What will you do to get your family healthy? Start thinking of ideas today for a better tomorrow.
