It’s no secret that the worldwide pandemic put a bit of a kibosh on most of our summer plans in 2020. As the weather warms up we want to share a few tips to keep you and your family safe and healthy as we head into the summer season. Summer in east Idaho is short lived. We have to soak in every bit of sunshine that we can while the weather is nice. In Rexburg especially, college students are often on break from school and want to spend their time doing anything but homework and being anywhere but inside with their roommates.
Sunscreen
This one, although a fairly new topic, has become a hot topic. One in every three cancers diagnosed is skin cancer. The importance of sunscreen whenever we are outside is huge, but especially in the summer. UV rays are strongest during the summer months. Sunscreen works by both absorbing and reflecting these harmful rays. If your summer plans include any type of water activities be especially watchful in applying and reapplying sunscreen. The sun reflection off the water can cause severe sunburn and skin damage.
Physical Therapy
This tip may seem less obvious. But the truth is, regardless of what summer activities you are most looking forward to, you won’t be able to enjoy them or maybe even participate in them at all if you are in pain. If you have an old injury or are injured doing one of your summertime hobbies then you should contact a physical therapist right away. The physical therapists in Rexburg at Pick PT have the motto that they want you to live life moving. They want to help you relieve pain quickly, efficiently and for good so that you can spend more time doing the things you love. Summer is also a great time to get your kids in therapy because it is easier to schedule if you do not have to work around school and other extracurriculars.
Water
Water safety is very important, but that is not what we are referring to right now. It is easy to get dehydrated in the summer. This is partially because of the business of the days, but also because when we sweat our bodies require that we drink even more water than we typically need. Don’t just pack juice, soda, or alcohol for your summer picnics. Make sure that you and your family have plenty of water to stay hydrated. If you are going on a hike, or a boating trip, or anything where you will be gone for a large portion of the day and also burning calories it is especially important to have plenty of water.
Eat in Season
Idahoans are used to never having any fresh fruits or vegetables. It is a very short window of time when we have access to truly fresh produce. Eating in season, growing your own garden, and shopping at local farmers markets not only saves your budget, but it is great for your overall health. A diet high in fruits and vegetables is shown to lower risk of disease. This food will also fuel your body for all of the fun plans you have this summer.
Adequate Sleep
The days are long in the summer. With the sun staying up until nine in the evening and rising around six in the morning, this extends the daylight more than six hours longer than a typical December day. Because of this, we are less likely to get the recommended amount of sleep. We are most active in the summertime, and yet we get the least amount of rest. It is important to remember that in the midst of all that fun you have scheduled to make sure you plan plenty of time to sleep so that you can stay healthy and keep enjoying the sunshine.
Idaho’s summer may not last long, but it sure is beautiful. There is so much to get out and see, explore and experience. We have access to beautiful mountains, lakes, rivers, and the perfectly cool summer nights. Whatever you are most looking forward to this summer, make sure that your health is in top shape so that you can get the most out of it.
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