After several months of shoveling sidewalks, watching movies and staying in, summer is finally around the corner! School is out and it’s time for family vacations, picnics and lots of outdoor activities. But with the lack of routine, we tend to stay up later, eat unhealthy and get stressed a little easier. Keep your family on track with these wholesome summertime tips:

1. Dig in the dirt. Planting a garden or pulling weeds is a great way to relieve physical and mental stress.

2. Get outdoors. Rather than going to the gym for a monotonous jog on a treadmill, include the family for a bike ride or a nature hike. Remember: A family that plays together, stays together.

3. Take a vacation. Because we tend to overschedule on vacation, we become stressed and feel like we need a vacation AFTER our vacation. Instead, use your vacation to relax. Take a deep breath and enjoy your surroundings and the people you love. This is a great way to lower your blood pressure and heart rate.

4. Lighten up on the alcohol. In the warm summer months, consider lighter drinks such as spritzers or sangria. As a bonus, alcohol, consumed in moderation, can protect against heart disease.

5. Sleep well. Keep your body on a schedule by sticking to a bedtime routine. Avoid taking naps unless you take them at the same time every day.

6. Fruit boost your diet. Summer is the peak season for mangoes, peaches, sweet cherries, cantaloupe and strawberries. Eating fruit may reduce the risk of heart disease and obesity while also protecting against certain types of cancers.

Soak up the sunshine and make the most of the long summer days. Before you know it, we will be shoveling sidewalks and scraping ice off of our car windows once again. Have a healthy summer!

Source: WebMD, Corporate Communications