5 Healthy Things to Do This Summer

Something about the summer sun’s warming rays and the beach’s soft breeze makes our spirit a little bit lighter and little bit calmer this time of year. But we can’t quite settle for rest and relaxation 24/7, right? Right. We think the season’s rejuvenating goodness should also inspire us to get up and out, and, well, live better. That’s why we’re bringing you the good life with these 5 healthy things to do this summer. Your mind and body will thank us later, we promise!

1. Do a 5k

We know, we know — any fitness goal is easier said than done. A 5k (which is approximately 3.1 miles) is a perfect place to start, though. Think of it as the ideal point of entry for beginner racers. Plus, training for a 5k doesn’t require months! If you can run a mile straight today, you can surely run three by August. Commit now and you’ll be ready in eight weeks, just like that! Next stop, 10k?! 

SEE ALSO Tech Tuesday: 0 to 5k Run Training App Review

2. Drink Four Bottles of Water Per Day

The health benefits of water are pretty much endless. Hydrating regularly throughout the day aids digestion, curbs hunger, flushes toxins, and clears up skin. Can you say, “Yes, please!”? Here’s the scoop: your average plastic bottle of Poland Spring contains nearly 17 ounces of water, and it’s often suggested that we drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day (remember the “8 by 8” rule?). Some argue that even this suggestion is on the low end. Our advice? Make it your job to finish four 17-ounce bottles’ worth of H2O throughout the day. We’re pretty sure those extra 20 ounces won’t kill you. Sip on!

SEE ALSO H2Own Up: 5 Filtering Water Bottles For Guilt-Free Hydration

3. Lather Up

Don’t get us wrong, we love sitting out just as much as you do–we just don’t want our skin to look like an elephant’s in 15 years. Simple solution? Apply (and then reapply) sunscreen daily this season. Sacrifice the glow now and you may save your future self and funds (aka say no thanks to skin cancer and expensive sun spot-removal treatments).

SEE ALSO Slow Skin Aging with Sunscreen

4. Eat These

Berries pack one of the biggest antioxidant punches around, and they taste like happiness in your mouth. In other words, we are obsessed with them and try to incorporate them into breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the summer months (when they’re in season). Gobble these babies up while you can, juice dribbling down your chin and all. No judgement.

Daily Bite Wellness Tip: Strawberries for Whiter Teeth

5. Make This

Seafood in the summer feels right — there’s really no denying it (sorry vegetarians…). Seafood in burger form? That feels even more right. Check out this mouth-watering recipe for teriyaki shrimp burgers from SkinnyTaste.com. We have a feeling these will be grazing our grills on July 4th weekend. Who’s with us?

What healthy things will you do this summer?

All Images via Thinkstock