With college students returning home in May, K-12 students beginning summer vacation in June, and many working families scheduling summer vacations of their own, the risk of letting up on your health measures becomes greater. There have been plenty of health ailments to protect against even before rapid COVID testing was required. Here are six ways to stay your absolute healthiest this summer.

Test Yourself

If there’s one thing we’ve learned since March 2020, it’s that the COVID-19 pandemic may never truly go away. The disease may wither into a seasonal flu-like disease, but there are still deadly cases occurring every day. For your own health and your household’s, utilize a rapid COVID test this summer every few weeks, especially after meeting up with people or groups you haven’t seen in a while. When returning home from a trip or vacation, definitely test yourself on the way back or as soon as you get home. That way, you’ll be able to isolate yourself and protect your family in the event of a positive test result.

Hydrate

For some, summertime is full of sports, exercise, travel, and activity. For others, the 10-12 weeks are for relaxing. Regardless of your level of activity, you need to properly hydrate in order to prevent heat stroke and fatigue. Even if your day consists of sitting outside and reading in the hot weather, you should still hydrate according to your body’s needs. You may not necessarily need eight glasses, but another metric you could follow is to consume half of your body weight in ounces of water each day. It is recommended you consume more than that in extreme heat and be sure to hydrate well before you feel thirsty.

Drink and Eat Healthy

Summer barbecues and cookouts are festivities to many. Especially in the heat, be sure you supplement your pizza, burgers, hot dogs, and grilled chicken with not only water but fruits and vegetables as well. It can be easy to relax for several weeks and indulge in sweets and unhealthy food without exercising, but doctors recommend you be mindful of how often and how much of this food you consume, as it can affect your heart. According to MedAlertHelp, care and treatment for heart attacks can cost you over $20,000. Unlike viral diseases, heart diseases are cumulative. You can’t just take a rapid COVID test and assess your cardiovascular health at home within 15 minutes.

Wear Sunscreen

Believe it or not, sunscreen should actually be worn at all times of the year. Even in the winter and the overcast autumn, the sun can still damage your skin. Many people are countering this by implementing sunscreen applications into their everyday routines. What many people don’t understand is that sun exposure is cumulative. While sunburn and tans may fade, they leave lasting effects on the layers of your skin and increase your risk of melanoma later in life. Save yourself the time now and be proactive about your skin.

Travel Safely

During a low point in the COVID-19 pandemic, it can be tempting to flee to the nearest vacation spot. Regardless of the pandemic status, you should prepare as much as you can before traveling and limit your spontaneity. Always tell friends or family where you are going and when you expect to arrive and return. The more details you provide, the safer you will likely be. Take extra consideration into traveling abroad, especially if traveling to a country that has been known to close its borders during COVID waves. Being marooned in another country can be devastating financially and emotionally!

Avoid Burnout

After a semester of college or a full school year, your brain and body may need significant time off. Don’t feel ashamed if you need to say no to plans every now and then to recover or take time for yourself. Checking in regularly with your primary care doctor, dentist, and therapist can keep you grounded in healthy habits year after year. While time off school can be great, resting your mind from all sorts of stimulation can be truly beneficial. Taking the time to do nothing can help you find your priorities and interests, and ease stress.

The summer is ripe with temptation and opportunity. Planning ahead will always benefit you, in the end, more than spontaneity ever could. Your physical and emotional safety depends on your capacity to care for yourself and those around you, so trust them with your travel details so you can check in with one another. Healthy habits lead to a healthy life. Contact us today for primary care consultation during your time off. With all these precautions for sunscreen and rapid COVID tests in mind, don’t forget to make your summer enjoyable!