Wellness Wednesday – Staying Healthy this Summer with Nurse Lauren
Hi there, Nurse Lauren here with your Wellness Wednesday tips! Is it me or does 2020 seem like it’s already been 5 years long? Make sure you are taking time to take care of yourself during these summer months. Some “me time” can be just what you need to recharge. For the remaining weeks this summer, try to create routines that will turn into healthy habits. Here are a few things we can do for our minds, bodies, and souls to help us stay healthy this summer!
Practice Social Distancing:
Continuing to follow the Social Distancing guidelines from the CDC will help to slow the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19.) Make sure to research any destination you are planning to go to, from a store to a day trip, so you know all the requirements, such as wearing a mask or number or people allowed at a time.
Get outdoors:
Sometimes there’s no better medicine than fresh air! Have to go to the store? Try taking a walk there and back. Have a dog? Stroll to the park for a round of fetch. Try to enjoy the outdoors and a little exercise! Read 12 Science-backed reasons you should spend more time outdoors from the Business Insider (@businessinsider) P.S. look out for those allergies and don’t forget your sunscreen or your mask! Here is Penn Medicine’s (@PennMedicine) answer to the question: Can I still take a walk around my neighborhood? “Unless specific local rules are prohibiting it, going outside and taking a walk where you stay at least 6′ away from others can be a great, safe way to stay healthy. The CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g. grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. Please check your local city, county, and state government website for specific guidelines.” For Additional COVID-19 Questions click here.
Grab a new book:
Making a list of the hot, new book releases is the perfect addition to any summer to-do list! The satisfaction of starting a new book is a feeling like none other. Have a list of books you’ve been longing to pick up at the bookstore? Don’t wait! Pick one and kick-off the weekend with a new novel – Romance? Mystery? Biography? Which will you choose?! Need more convincing that reading is good for you? Check out Healthline’s (@Healthline) article Benefits of Reading Books: How It Can Positively Affect Your Life.
Try a new recipe:
Ready to make real change in your diet? Tired of making the same old meals? Has meal prepping got you into a meal rut? Check out skinnytaste (@skinnytaste) for some new recipes that align with your health goals. Zucchini boats, quinoa salads, and fresh fish recipes are just a few of the calorie-friendly yet flavorful foods you’ll find while perusing the long list of mouth-watering meal ideas! Check out Harvard Medical School’s (@HarvardHealth) Eating During COVID-19: Improve Your Mood and Lower Stress for help to continue making good food choices during the pandemic.
Stay hydrated:
Remember to drink water throughout the day to keep yourself hydrated. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that an adequate daily fluid intake is about 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids for men and about 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day for women. Factors that may effect your fluid intake are: exercise, environment / weather, your overall health, and if you are pregnant or breast feeding. How do you know if you are taking in enough water? You rarely feel thirsty and your urine is light yellow or colorless. For more information and the health benefits of drinking water read the Mayo Clinic’s (@MayoClinic) advice.
Wear sunscreen:
Everyone needs to use sunscreen. Anyone regardless to age, gender, race can get skin cancer. 1 in 5 Americans will develop some type of skin cancer in their lifetime. Wear it anytime you are going outside. Apply it generously to any skin that will be exposed to the sun. Put sunscreen on 15 minutes before you go out. You should reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating. Don’t forget your lips! Apply a lipstick or lip balm with at least SPF 30. While no sunscreen can block 100 percent of the sun’s UVB rays, dermatologists recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. For more information from types, to selection, to application, check out the American Academy of Dermatology’s (@AADskin) Sunscreen FAQs.
This is Nurse Lauren, contributor of NursesNOW, signing off with your Wellness Wednesday tips. Remember that keeping active, being mindful of your overall well-being, and eating nutritious meals are vital to living a healthy lifestyle.
