Whether you are going on holiday in the UK or abroad, or enjoying the summer at home here are a few tips to help you stay healthy this summer.
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Hydration: Keep up with aiming to drink 2 litres of water per day and more if it very hot. Water is important for all body functions particularly the brain. As a craniosacral therapist the flow of cerebrospinal fluid is especially of interest to me, and you need to be adequately hydrated to supply the brain with nutrients and for metabolites to be flushed out. I can usually identify if a client has not drunk enough water on the day they are having a treatment!
Alcohol: Don't forget alcohol can dehydrate you so always have one glass of water between every unit of alcohol you drink. Keep alcohol consumption to safe limits whilst on holiday, it can be easy to get carried away!
Diet: It is great to experience different food and cultures. Take the opportunity to make the most of lots of fruits and vegetables that are in season. Aim to eat at least 10 portions of fruit and vegetables per day. Also try to have 50 different fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, nuts and seeds in a week. This helps to increase the diversity of your gut biome and provide your body with a range of antioxidants.
Skin care: remember to apply sun screen if you are out in the sun. Avoid being out between 11 am and 3pm when the sun is at its hottest and most powerful. Remember to moisturize well and the end of the day too.
Mental Health: Holidays are supposed to be a time for relaxation, new experiences and spending with family and friends. For some, going on holiday can be a stressful experience, especially this year with airport disruption, train strikes and the increase cost of fuel. Make sure you take some time to think about how you are doing, tune into your body to notice if you are carrying any tension and if there is anything you can do to let the tension go. Take some time for yourself if you can, whether that is going for a walk or sitting on your own, being with friends or family 24/7 can sometimes create tension as it is not something we would do normally. Even if you yourself do not have any mental health challenges, consider how those around you are feeling.
Routine: We all need routine and being out of routine can sometimes play havoc with our sleep and digestion. Even though it is nice to take some time out of the daily routine of normal life try to not complete change your routine just because you are on holiday. Routine is especially important for children, so if you are wondering why your young children are not themselves consider have they had enough sleep or eaten foods that are different or eaten at different times than they would be used to. Being out of routine for some can also be stressful and can increase anxiety so again consider those around you. We also need to think about our circadian rhythm, if we shift our sleep wake cycle on holiday it will make it very difficult to get back into the routine of work and school when we get home.
Mediation: Take the opportunity to meditate. Listen to the waves or the sounds of nature. It can really help to calm your central nervous system. It is not always easy to mediate and we are often too busy thinking about what we need to do next or what email we need to respond to, so being on holiday may be a good place to start.
If you are not going away for a holiday this year but spending time at home, create yourself a spa day by booking in for some treatments or pampering yourself at home.
Alcohol: Don't forget alcohol can dehydrate you so always have one glass of water between every unit of alcohol you drink. Keep alcohol consumption to safe limits whilst on holiday, it can be easy to get carried away!
Diet: It is great to experience different food and cultures. Take the opportunity to make the most of lots of fruits and vegetables that are in season. Aim to eat at least 10 portions of fruit and vegetables per day. Also try to have 50 different fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, nuts and seeds in a week. This helps to increase the diversity of your gut biome and provide your body with a range of antioxidants.
Skin care: remember to apply sun screen if you are out in the sun. Avoid being out between 11 am and 3pm when the sun is at its hottest and most powerful. Remember to moisturize well and the end of the day too.
Mental Health: Holidays are supposed to be a time for relaxation, new experiences and spending with family and friends. For some, going on holiday can be a stressful experience, especially this year with airport disruption, train strikes and the increase cost of fuel. Make sure you take some time to think about how you are doing, tune into your body to notice if you are carrying any tension and if there is anything you can do to let the tension go. Take some time for yourself if you can, whether that is going for a walk or sitting on your own, being with friends or family 24/7 can sometimes create tension as it is not something we would do normally. Even if you yourself do not have any mental health challenges, consider how those around you are feeling.
Routine: We all need routine and being out of routine can sometimes play havoc with our sleep and digestion. Even though it is nice to take some time out of the daily routine of normal life try to not complete change your routine just because you are on holiday. Routine is especially important for children, so if you are wondering why your young children are not themselves consider have they had enough sleep or eaten foods that are different or eaten at different times than they would be used to. Being out of routine for some can also be stressful and can increase anxiety so again consider those around you. We also need to think about our circadian rhythm, if we shift our sleep wake cycle on holiday it will make it very difficult to get back into the routine of work and school when we get home.
Mediation: Take the opportunity to meditate. Listen to the waves or the sounds of nature. It can really help to calm your central nervous system. It is not always easy to mediate and we are often too busy thinking about what we need to do next or what email we need to respond to, so being on holiday may be a good place to start.
If you are not going away for a holiday this year but spending time at home, create yourself a spa day by booking in for some treatments or pampering yourself at home.
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