Your Summer Wellness and Self-Care Guide

Here is your guide to summer wellness and self-care. Enjoy these five ways to balance your energy and stay comfortable through the hot days of summer–mind, body, heart and spirit.

Ah, summer….delightful weather, longer and more radiant days, vibrant lillies and cheery sunflowers, picnics and barbecues, barefoot meandorings outdoors….

And freedom.

Since I worked in the public school system for many years (and grew up in it as well), I always looked forward to the open door summer provided. I still do!

How about you? What does summer expose for you?

I know that summer isn’t so exciting for everyone, and Seasonal Affective Disorder is not only experienced in the winter.

Many people are vulnerable to depression in summer. Some people might be triggered by loss or other life stressors that occurred this time of year.

The seasonal shift could be stressful and anxiety-provoking if you love cooler weather. Summer heat and humidity can be aggravating to some.

Along with its outdoor callings, summer also demands a certain level of self-care. It can be drying to the body; and summer wind can carry a high level of impurities in the air. Excessive sweating can clog pores and leave your skin feeling rough. You can also experience more mineral and nutrient deficiencies during the summer months.

No worries….this guide will help you balance your summer wellness and self-care. Keep reading!

According to Ayurveda, summer is the season in which the Pitta body-type thrives. Those with a Pitta body type are naturally drawn to the warmth and energy of summer.

However, other body types (Vata and Kapha) can adapt and benefit from the vitality that comes with the summer season and the grounding effects of the long, warm days.

Enjoying summer–no matter what you’re body type or seasonal preference–is all about balancing your energy and staying comfortable.

You can discover your Ayurveda Dosha Body-Type when you sign up for my mini-course, “RENEW”. It’s your personal guide to restore, energize, nourish, empower….and win back YOU! Click the link to check it out.

By understanding your individual needs and preferences and making some seasonal adjustments, you can maintain your overall well-being throughout the hot days of summer.

You can implement some simple strategies to stay cool, mellow summer’s intensity, relax, and ground your energy. This blog post will give you a great start to better your health and increase your vitality this summer.

1. Temper Your Digestive Fire

Our digestion and metabolism processes create internal heat, which if not balanced can cause tummy issues, nutrient deficiencies, weight fluctuations (up or down), fatigue and lethargy, skin problems, and/or emotional imbalances.

You can balance this energy by choosing lighter foods and enjoying smaller meals. For some, this might mean eating more frequently (3-5 small meals) to make sure you get adequate nutrition for your body type and weight goals.

Additionally, mindful eating can help ease digestion as you slow down to savor seasonal foods and flavors.

These two practices will help to disperse that internal heat produced by digestion and keep you calmer and cooler.

You’ll also benefit from choosing foods that are naturally sweet and slightly bitter and cool. Juicy berries, for example, increase blood flow to the skin, resulting in reduced sensitivity to light and improved skin texture.

It’s the perfect time to enjoy fresh fruits and salads, as well as dairy or non-dairy foods and drinks, such as yogurt, kefir, cottage cheese, and yes….even ice cream. *Incorporate these foods early in your day, rather than in the evening, for maximum digestive benefits.

Green leafy vegetables can also save your skin during the summer because the body converts carotenoids, present in dark green foods, into Vitamin A, which shields and heals the skin from sun damage.

Liquified foods such as vegetable soups and green smoothies are great options to aid digestion.

Some vegetables can be too warming for the body during summer. You might want to reduce your consumption of onions, garlic, ginger, beets, radishes, and spicy chilies….just for the summer season.

2. Beat the Heat with the Best Summer Beverages

Contrary to what you might think, iced drinks are not the best choice. Ice cold drinks can disturb digestion and be difficult for your body to absorb. So they won’t really help you stay hydrated. If you love iced drinks, just balance them with cool and room temp drinks throughout the day.

Enjoy cool or room temperature water infused with mint, lime or basil.

Cooling herbal teas such as peppermint, licorice, fennel, hibiscus (my favorite) or rose will cool your body whether you drink them warm or chilled.

Whirl some watermelon in a blender to make a super-hydrating homemade juice. Add a little lime juice or mint for extra flavor and cooling properties. Also, the lycopene in watermelon can help protect your skin from damaging sun rays.

See my recipe for a fantastically refreshing Watermelon Juice Cooler on page 7 in my FREE “Summer Rejuvenation Recipe Guide”. I guarantee you’ll love the other 15 juice, tonic and smoothie recipes, too.

3. Let Summer Ignite Your Exercise Regimen

The radiance of a summer day can motivate you to get moving more; and more hours of light offer more time for exercise.

Don’t let the heat keep you indoors cranking up the AC. This is a great time to get active!

You’ve just gotta get outside at the right times and monitor your intensity.

In most parts of the world, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. mark the hottest time of the day. Early morning offers a cooler invitation to get some movement and satisfy a nature fix, too.

Don’t push too hard during your summer workouts. Challenge yourself to breath through your nose throughout your workouts. This will help slow your breathing and exertion level. You’ll feel calmer during your workout and offer your body numerous other cardiovascular, nervous system and respiratory benefits from nasal breathing.

To help your body cool down after your workout, dab a drop or two of cooling essential oils on your wrists, throat, or naval. You might also enjoy rubbing your legs with a little coconut oil and a few drops of essential oils. Peppermint, lime and rose oils are great options.

4. Spark Some Summer Romance

Whether you’re on the pursuit for new love or looking to reignite a long-time relationship, summer offers opportunities for fun, creative romance.

Get in touch with your partner’s, or prospective partner’s, love language. Determine what lights them up.

If they love receiving gifts, put together a summer care package equipped with summer necessities, such as skin care products, a wide brimmed hat, a cool and breathable cotton shirt, an herbal sun tea kit, some cool shades, etc.

Or how about springing for outdoor concert tickets, surf lessons for two, a fishing trip for two, a romantic and private bay tour, horse back riding, or a bicycle built for two would be SO MUCH FUN!

For a quality time lover, plan summer sunrise or sunset picnic dates. How fun and special would it be to enjoy a spread of croissants, cheese, fruit and chocolate outdoors on a blanket at first light?

Start a new summer television series. Learn to sail or surf. Plan a vacation and create an opportunity to dream together and build anticipation for something exciting.

If your partner loves when you help out, seek out some summer specific chores around the house to tackle soon. Wash the windows for maximum summer sky and wildlife viewing. Scrub patio furniture so you can enjoy more quality time outdoors. Shape up the yard, garden or surrounding landscape and add some accessories to entice even more time outside together.

For the lover of words, create a sultry summer vibe by sharing some of these summer romance quotes. Include one or two on handwritten notes slipped into a purse, wallet or lunch bag. Read one over a voice memo with an invitation to meet later. Print the good ones (some are not so good) and read them together while on a picnic.

A life without love is like a year without summer.

— Unknown

Don’t let summer heat keep you from getting close physically. If you’re partner craves physical touch and you want to stay cool, sign up for an indoor Latin dance class (oo-la-la), find a couple’s yoga class online, learn the art of couple’s massage, see how you might like bringing ice-cubes into the bedroom.

Summer is a great time to bring some sizzle into your love life.

And….you can work together to improve your summer wellness and self-care.

You might also enjoy reading: “10 Ways to Rev Up Your Relationship”.

5. Embody a Renewed Summer Spirit

In nature, summer offers us abundance and massive growth–and so it does for our hearts and souls.

Just like the voluminous flowers and exertive wildlife, we are called to open our hearts and come out to play.

Getting outdoors and connecting to nature every day will reopen a sense of awe and wonder for you. Get in sync with nature by waking and retreating with the sun. Absorb some of the sun’s powerful energy early in the morning; let it soak into you just for a bit to revitalize your skin, your heart and your soul.

We are part of a grand and beautiful mystery which unfurls endlessly all around us, and it is our most important task to cherish and invest in our connection with it.

— Ben Goldsmith, English environmentalist

Sit under a tree with your arms and palms outstretched, and open yourself up to new ideas, relationships and experiences that will be exposed to you in the rays coming through the limbs and leaves.

Let yourself become infused with the vitality summer offers.

Embrace your dreams, and intend to nurture them!

Relax. Play.

Seek love. And be love.

Grab your FREE Summer Rejuvenation Guide!