Skip to main content
You are viewing: The Suncoast Post > Great Reading > Self-Care Ideas to Survive the Hot Summer Days Here on the Suncoast
Self-Care

Self-Care Ideas to Survive the Hot Summer Days Here on the Suncoast

| Angela Naff |

With the heat of the summer, skin conditions, heat stroke, sunburns, chapped lips, and tiredness can make us all feel less than ideal. Ensuring that you are eating well, hydrating correctly, and of course, doing self-care for keeping spirits up can be crucial during these hottest of months here on the Suncoast. Here are just a few ideas for self-care you can do at home to weather these tough summer months and thrive.

Cooling Face Masks

When the mercury rises throughout the summer, you might find your face feeling puffy, dry, and just blah. Similar to a cold compress, cooling your sheet mask reduces puffiness around the eyes. But, unlike a cold compress, sheet masks are packed with ingredients that can soothe tired or sun-kissed skin, reducing redness and blemishes.  Just lay the mask on your face and chill out for ten to fifteen minutes. Maybe drink some cucumber water to maximize the at-home spa experience? Just put sliced cucumber in a pitcher of water for up to 12 hours, remove the cucumber, and enjoy. 

Self Care & Relaxing Showers

Drink water before a shower as this, and the hot water will dilate your blood vessels which directly lowers your blood pressure. Add a eucalyptus plant to the shower head so that the steam from the shower releases beneficial oils from the plant to help de-stress and fight viral and other infections. Don’t forget the loofah to slough off dead skin and leave you feeling refreshed and ready for your next hot day outside.

Suncoast food
Photo Courtesy of Unsplash

Check Your Diet

Since more crops are in season during the warmer months, summer can be a convenient time to incorporate more nutritious food into your diet. What we put into our bodies directly affects our well-being. To optimize your brain health:

  • Try eating more complex carbohydrates. These are found in whole grains, vegetables, beans, and peas.
  • Stay away from refined foods like chips, crackers, and cookies.
  • Consider getting protein from organic poultry, fish, or beef, as these will not have preservatives or additives.
  • Try limiting your consumption of caffeine, sugar, and alcohol when possible.

Self-Care Journaling

 Get your thoughts out of your head and down onto paper so you can see them clearly and take action where necessary. Whether stuck inside, planning new adventures, or struggling to put thoughts down on paper can be cathartic. Many find journaling helpful in organizing thoughts, getting out the negative, and more orderly than can happen when allowing our brain to churn on things for too long.

Check Your Sunscreen

Traditional sunscreen may keep your skin safe from the sun’s dangerous UV rays, but that protection comes at a cost. Many of the big-name brands contain chemicals that rank high on the EWG Skin Deep Database (and high is bad in this case). Getting to know what is in your sunscreen can make a huge difference in how you feel this summer. Using mineral sunscreens might be a better option for both protection and some support to your health and well-being.

Hydrating Self-Care

We all know that keeping hydrated during the summer can be tough, and most just try to keep the water content up. This can be hard to force yourself to drink enough water when in fact, there are some additional things we should keep in mind regarding proper hydration this summer.

  • Need more flavor? Add berries or slices of lime, lemon, or cucumber to water.
  • Missing fizzy drinks? Add a splash of 100% juice to plain sparkling water for a refreshing, low-calorie drink.
  • Need help breaking the habit? Don’t stock up on sugary drinks. Instead, keep a jug or bottles of cold water in the fridge.
  • Water just won’t do. Reach for drinks that contain important nutrients such as low-fat or fat-free milk; unsweetened, fortified milk alternatives; or 100% fruit or vegetable juice first.
  • At the coffee shop? Skip the flavored syrups or whipped cream. Ask for a drink with low-fat or fat-free milk, an unsweetened milk alternative such as soy or almond, or get back to basics with black coffee.
  • At the store? Read the Nutrition Facts label to choose drinks that are low in calories, added sugars, and saturated fat.
  • On the go? Carry a reusable water bottle with you and refill it throughout the day.
  • Still thirsty? Learn how to drink more water.
water self-care
Photo Courtesy of CDC website

As we see the temperatures climb into the three digits, take time for your self-care. Did you find new ideas on our list today or some of your tried and true favorites? While living in the paradise of Florida with amazing beaches, stunning landscapes, and great events can be wonderful, the weather can occasionally be negative. Finding great options to take care of ourselves, our bodies, and our mind through the blistering summer months can keep us optimistic and ready to welcome the cooler fall temperatures with open arms.

Feature Photo Courtesy of Deposit Photos

Skip to content