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The weather’s warm and the sun is shining bright; that means summer is right around the corner! This year, the summer solstice is on June 21st, and it’s the perfect chance to kick off the season on the right foot – by getting outside with your family and enjoying everything the outdoors have to offer! To help you make the most of the extra daylight, we’ve got our top 5 ways to enjoy the longest day of the year!
1. Wake up early.
We know how tempting it is to hit the snooze button and roll over for another 10 minutes of sleep – but those 10 minutes of sleep will just make you groggy and late to work. Instead, capitalize on the extra sunlight by getting up with your alarm. Better yet, some early morning exercise is a great way to start the day off smoothly!
Morning exercises help you start your day with a boost: they promote metabolic health, mental and physical energy, and can even help you sleep better at night. Use the solstice as your one-day trial – who knows, you might find yourself working out early every day!
2. Take your meals outside.
The solstice falls on a Thursday this year, and most of us will find ourselves at work. Think of it as a great reason to take your meals outside while the weather’s nice! There may not be any direct nutritional benefits to eating outdoors, but fresh, healthy foods – like summer fruits and vegetables – seem to taste better while you’re basking in the sunlight! Plus, there are tons of proven benefits for stepping away from your desk and out of the office during meals.
The great outdoors can profoundly boost our mental health and mood – studies show that the fresh air can lower heart rate, blood pressure, and stress hormone levels. These effects help our bodies to relax, easing muscle tension and stiffness, helping both our bodies and minds feel better.
If your office doesn’t have a picnic table or shady spot to settle down in, take half of your lunchbreak and go for a walk! Studies from the University of Michigan and Stanford University both cite the stress-reducing benefits of a stroll through any natural scenery.
3. Spend time with your family.
A fantastic way to make the most of your solstice – and any day – is to spend time with your family. Family time helps your children develop healthy habits and provides emotional support and it will do the same for you. No matter what your family likes doing, there’s a great, healthy activity you can all enjoy together.
Teach your kids how to make healthy food choices by having them cook with you. Little kids can help by gathering ingredients and setting up the table while older children can help with vegetable preparation and even start cooking the entire meal! This is a great way to share wisdom about what goes into meals and what’s good for the body – and to have a blast in the kitchen!
Having everyone join in on an activity is the best way to promote togetherness. Whether you all take a relaxing walk or spend time playing games together, family activities promote conversation and relaxation at the end of the day. If your family is more active, tossing a ball around or taking a bike ride together can be a much-needed break while getting everyone active. Who knew spending time together could be so healthy?
4. Journal about your day.
Journaling is an easy way to keep tabs on our days, which give us insight we might not otherwise see. Writing every night helps to boost our memories, communication skills, and even mental wellness! We see how our days have affected us and can use that to shape our tomorrows.
Keeping a journal also helps us keep up with healthy habits. By taking note of our days, we can see how we spent it. Did we eat enough protein? Did we forget to exercise for the 3rd day in a row? We can change to live healthier lives and achieve our goals by acknowledging what we did well and where we can improve. Grab a pen and paper and give it a try!
5. Make sure to get enough shut-eye!
As important as it is to enjoy the day, it’s equally important to rest when it’s over! It may be tempting to stay up and check a couple more e-mails or read another chapter in a book, but before you know it, you could be up all night! Getting less than the recommended 8 hours of sleep has a lot of negative effects on the body, including:
- Poor memory and cognitive function
- Mood changes
- A weakened immune system
- Increased likelihood for weight gain
- Higher risk for diabetes and heart disease
So be sure to end your day right – by tucking in early!
Come to NYBG.
When it’s time to start a successful weight-loss journey, it’s time to call NYBG! We’re the best practice around and our numbers prove it:
- 9 skilled surgeons who are leaders in bariatrics
- 15,000 successful procedures performed with more every day
- The #1 gastric balloon practice by volume – most balloons placed in the United States
- 24/7 access to online seminars
- 100s of videos for patients explaining procedures, answering common questions, and showcasing previous patients
- Since 2000, we boast 18 years of success!
Our commitment to patient success and excellence has earned us accreditation from the Metabolic Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). This prestigious achievement recognizes only the top bariatric practices. Stop waiting; start achieving better health today.
