Summer is in full swing, which usually means weekends lounging in the sun and lots of refreshing summer drinks and snacks.
Fortunately, summer is also the perfect time to start building healthy habits.
Here are just a few healthy habits you can start forming this summer.
Eating a More Balanced Diet
Did you know that digestive disorders affect anywhere from 60 to 70 million people in the United States?
More often than not, when people talk about eating a balanced diet, they’re not doing so because of digestive issues.
But here’s the thing. When you want to eat a more balanced diet, it means structuring your diet to meet your specific dietary needs.
You wouldn’t keep eating peanuts if you were allergic to them!
So why would you keep eating a different food that gives you digestive trouble?
Whether you’re suffering from painful bloating, intense stomach aches, or inconsistencies in your stool, it’s important to identify foods that don’t work well for your body. You should eat for a healthy gut.
Some common foods that cause stomach trouble include:
- Dairy products like cow’s milk and cheese
- Acidic foods like tomatoes and citrus fruits
- Fried or greasy foods
- Spicy foods like hot peppers
- Refined wheat products like white bread and bagels
If you’ve been having digestive problems, an elimination diet may help you find out what foods have been bothering you.
Start by eliminating the most likely culprit from your diet for a week or so and record how you’re feeling.
If nothing has changed, add that item back into your diet and repeat until you find what’s been ailing you.
In doing so, you’ll be able to cultivate a better relationship with food and be kinder to your body at the same time.
Exercise Daily
While not all of us have the energy to sweat it out for two hours every single day, it’s still important to get moving for at least a little while each day.
You don’t have to ascribe to an intense workout regimen that you hate in the name of fitness.
Rather, consider moving in some way, shape, or form every day that brings you joy.
If that’s waking up and going for a long walk, great! If that means signing up for a daily dance class, awesome!
The key is to move in a way that challenges you a little bit but doesn’t cause you pain or grief.
When almost 50% of working Americans experience back pain every year, it’s important to recognize when exercise could be exacerbating pain like that.
If you’re worried that exercise will have a negative impact on your body or your current aches and pains, it’s best to consult with your doctor and a fitness instructor before starting any kind of intense workout regimen.
Changing the way you exercise so that you’re not hurting yourself is important!
And if you start small, exercising every day is an easy thing to do.
Prioritize Sleep
Summer evenings seem to last forever when the sun doesn’t set until 9:00 PM. Unfortunately, that could really be messing with your sleep schedule if you’re not careful!
When the sun sets later in the evening, you’re more likely to stay up a little bit later to soak up all of that extra daylight time.
But if you’re not getting enough sleep, your health is definitely going to suffer for it.
With that in mind, try to stick to a schedule for bedtime if you’re able.
Going to sleep at the same time every night can help you feel comfortable in your routine and it can help set a precedent for prioritizing your sleep.
If you, like 76% of other homeowners believe a kitchen island is essential, then seven to nine hours of sleep should be, too!
Forming healthy habits this summer doesn’t have to be a hassle. In fact, you can start forming these three healthy habits today!