With summer time upon us, kids out of school, and vacations planned, it’s easy to get away from a regular schedule that helps to keep us healthy. While we may not be able to keep to our fitness routines at 100%, here are 5 tips that will help keep you healthy as you enjoy summer:

  1. Drink plenty of water – During the summer, it’s more difficult to stay hydrated, but it’s also more important. Experts say you should drink .5 ounces of water for every pound of your body weight per day. That means if you weigh 150 pounds, you should drink 75 ounces of water – or about 9 cups.
  2. Exercise – Summer conspires against us when it comes to keeping a regular workout schedule. Besides the heat, going on vacation can keep us from exercising. Take advantage of your pool; you can swim laps or do many other muscle building activities. If you’re on vacation, check out this 20 minute routine you can do in your hotel room.
  3. Sleep – Here in Arizona, it’s hard not to want to stay up late and take advantage of the cooler evenings. But sleep is still as important as it is during the rest of the year. A nice short siesta can help keep you balanced.
  4. Eat Healthy – When you’re on vacation, it’s hard to make healthy eating choices. Look for foods that are as raw or unprocessed as possible. The less processed the food, the healthier it is and the less fat and calories it contains. But don’t get so caught up that you forget to enjoy yourself.
  5. Reduce Stress – Let some things slide, but not too far. Enjoy life and the opportunities you have to vacation or spend more time with your family.

Taking time to do these little things can make a big difference. You will have more energy to enjoy the parties, activities, and vacations you have planned. Happy Summer!